France, second in the European ranking of patent applications to the EPO!

The European Patent Office (EPO) published its annual Patent Index on March 25. This ranking is based on patent applications received by the EPO in 2024.

Key points to remember:

• With an increase of 1,1%, France ranks 2nd in Europe in terms of patent applications.

• Patent applications originating in France recorded strong growth in the sectors of basic chemistry (+24,5%), audiovisual techniques (+16,4%), as well as materials and metallurgy (+11,6%).

• Safran, Valeo, the CEA and Sanofi are among the main French players in innovation.

• In Europe, almost one in four patent applications is filed by a small business, one in four involving a female inventor.

• The unitary patent system is growing with more than 28 applications in 000.

• French innovators are showing an increasing rate of use of the unitary patent.