Patent filings: the truth behind the data

摘要

The latest batch of patent filing data released by the European Patent Office (EPO) reveals that innovation activity in the UK has increased, which is always a good sign. However, dig a bit deeper and the true picture becomes clear-UK innovators are still not doing enough to protect their inventions, unlike those in many other parts of the world.The total number of patent filings made to the EPO by UK businesses grew by 2.4 per cent to 5,313 in 2017, a sign that investment in innovation remains buoyant. Drilling down into the UK data for industry sectors, the number of patent applications for innovations related to civil engineering rose considerably - increasing by 20.2 per cent. Similarly, the number of pharmaceutical and biotech patent applications rose by 15.7 per cent and 25.3 per cent respectively. Patent applications for medical technology overtook transport as the UK's most active technology field, with 364 patent applications made in 2017.