Patent applications by nonresidents — all countries

Patent applications by nonresidents — European Union

Patent applications by nonresidents in the European Union in 2021 — 26,092 filings. Since 1980, the indicator has fallen by 72.4%.

2021 26,092 filings −0.19% vs 2020
World rank
Period maximum 94,469 filings1980
Period minimum 16,592 filings2009

Trend over time

1980–2021 · applications

Patent applications by nonresidents — European Union, 1980–2021025,00050,00075,000100,0001980198519901995200020052010201520201980: 94,469 filings1981: 73,428 filings1982: 67,999 filings1983: 73,969 filings1984: 59,212 filings1985: 62,463 filings1986: 50,768 filings1987: 41,163 filings1988: 48,426 filings1989: 39,821 filings1990: 35,476 filings1991: 29,099 filings1992: 25,332 filings1993: 25,214 filings1994: 24,802 filings1995: 25,388 filings1996: 27,374 filings1997: 30,910 filings1998: 30,246 filings1999: 33,521 filings2000: 36,277 filings2001: 34,285 filings2002: 35,284 filings2003: 31,381 filings2004: 26,111 filings2005: 23,404 filings2006: 19,863 filings2007: 19,408 filings2008: 18,361 filings2009: 16,592 filings2010: 16,956 filings2011: 17,744 filings2012: 19,908 filings2013: 21,085 filings2014: 22,949 filings2015: 23,781 filings2016: 24,854 filings2017: 25,643 filings2018: 26,654 filings2019: 26,305 filings2020: 26,141 filings2021: 26,092 filings
Change over the period: −68,377 (−72.38%) Average annual rate: -3.09 %

Comparison, 2021

How the value compares with the world and the groups this territory belongs to: European Union

European Union 26,092 filings
World 1.02M filings
Patent applications by nonresidents — European Union, by year European Union All countries CSV XLSX
Year filings Change Change, %
2021 26,092 −49 −0.19%
2020 26,141 −164 −0.62%
2019 26,305 −349 −1.31%
2018 26,654 +1,011 +3.94%
2017 25,643 +789 +3.17%
2016 24,854 +1,073 +4.51%
2015 23,781 +832 +3.63%
2014 22,949 +1,864 +8.84%
2013 21,085 +1,177 +5.91%
2012 19,908 +2,164 +12.2%
2011 17,744 +788 +4.65%
2010 16,956 +364 +2.19%
2009 16,592 −1,769 −9.63%
2008 18,361 −1,047 −5.39%
2007 19,408 −455 −2.29%
2006 19,863 −3,541 −15.13%
2005 23,404 −2,707 −10.37%
2004 26,111 −5,270 −16.79%
2003 31,381 −3,903 −11.06%
2002 35,284 +999 +2.91%
2001 34,285 −1,992 −5.49%
2000 36,277 +2,756 +8.22%
1999 33,521 +3,275 +10.83%
1998 30,246 −664 −2.15%
1997 30,910 +3,536 +12.92%
1996 27,374 +1,986 +7.82%
1995 25,388 +586 +2.36%
1994 24,802 −412 −1.63%
1993 25,214 −118 −0.47%
1992 25,332 −3,767 −12.95%
1991 29,099 −6,377 −17.98%
1990 35,476 −4,345 −10.91%
1989 39,821 −8,605 −17.77%
1988 48,426 +7,263 +17.64%
1987 41,163 −9,605 −18.92%
1986 50,768 −11,695 −18.72%
1985 62,463 +3,251 +5.49%
1984 59,212 −14,757 −19.95%
1983 73,969 +5,970 +8.78%
1982 67,999 −5,429 −7.39%
1981 73,428 −21,041 −22.27%
1980 94,469

About the indicator

The number of patent applications filed in a country by nonresident applicants. The indicator measures not the inventive activity of the country but the value of its market: a patent has force only where it is granted, so foreign companies file where they intend to sell or where they fear copying. The ratio to applications by residents splits countries into those that invent and those where others file.

Important: A measure of the appeal of a market, not of innovativeness. An application is not a patent: some applications are rejected, and the share of rejections differs across countries.

Source: IP Statistics (WIPO), license CC BY 3.0 IGO.