The Roche towers in Basel. The pharmaceutical group overtook electrical engineering group ABB to claim first place for patent applications in Switzerland.
Keystone / Georgios Kefalas
Swiss companies filed almost seven times as many patent applications per million inhabitants last year as companies in the United States. The medical technology sector led the field.
After a slight decline due to Covid in 2020, patent applications in Europe rose again last year, the European Patent Office (EPO) said in a statementExternal link on Tuesday.
The Munich-based body received a total of 188,600 patent applications in 2021, an increase of 4.5% year-on-year, setting a new record. It registered 8,442 patent applications from Switzerland, up 3.9%.
The US remains the country with the highest number of patent applications (46,553), while patent filings from Chinese companies “continued to climb steeply”, increasing by 24% last year (16,665), the EPO said.
Per million inhabitants, however, Switzerland remains way out in the lead with 969 patent applications, followed by Sweden (488), Denmark (454), the Netherlands (383) and Finland (380). The US had 140 applications per million inhabitants and the UK 82.
More
More
Switzerland ranks among world leaders for trademark and patent filings
This content was published on
A record number of international patents were filed last year despite the Covid-19 pandemic.
At the European level the digital communication and information technology sector filed the most applications (15,400, 9.4%), followed by medical technology (15,231, 8.8%) and computer technology (14,671, 9.7%).
In Switzerland the medical technology sector applied for the most patents. This was followed by the consumer goods, metrology, electronic devices and machines, pharmaceuticals, chemistry and biotechnology sectors.
Among Swiss companies, Basel-based pharmaceutical group Roche overtook electrical engineering group ABB in first place. The two tobacco companies Japan Tobacco and Philip Morris were followed by Nestlé and Swatch Group.
Popular Stories
More
Life & Aging
Switzerland no longer wants to foot the bill for ‘suicide tourism’
As a Swiss Abroad, how do you feel about the emergence of more conservative family policies in some US states?
In recent years several US states have adopted more conservative policies on family issues, abortion and education. As a Swiss citizen living there, how do you view this development?
Swiss federal office sees no reason to end deportations of asylum-seekers to Croatia
This content was published on
Switzerland's State Secretariat for Migration (SEM) continues to deport asylum-seekers to Croatia. It thus rejects a demand from the Swiss Refugee Council in mid-February, which called for a halt to the returns.
ChatGPT responds to negative emotions and therapy, research shows
This content was published on
Stressful information can also cause anxiety in artificial intelligence (AI). As scientists in Zurich have shown, it's even possible to calm the GPT-4 AI model with mindfulness exercises.
Mortgage benchmark fall paves way for potential rent cuts in Switzerland
This content was published on
Switzerland’s national benchmark for mortgage costs dropped to the level it had before the global inflation surge, paving the way for potential rent reductions.
Switzerland ‘deeply concerned’ by Trump’s death penalty order
This content was published on
Switzerland has told the UN Human Rights Council that it is "deeply concerned" by US President Donald Trump's recent executive order to strengthen capital punishment at federal and state level.
Blatter, Platini return to court for new fraud trial over CHF2 million FIFA payment
This content was published on
Former FIFA President Sepp Blatter and former UEFA President Michel Platini appeared in court in Switzerland on Monday accused of fraud - 2.5 years after they were cleared.
Israel criticises Swiss decision to host Middle East conference in Geneva on Friday
This content was published on
Israel has condemned Switzerland for planning to host a meeting on international humanitarian law in the Middle East next Friday in Geneva.
Centre Party’s Franziska Biner elected to Valais government
This content was published on
Voters in canton Valais in southern Switzerland elected Franziska Biner to the cantonal government in the first round of voting, beating off more established politicians.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Genome editing’s patent problem fuels concern for the future of food
This content was published on
Genome editing is touted as a solution to feeding a planet battered by climate change. But an outdated patent system could stifle its potential.
Swiss open to compromise in Covid vaccine talks at WTO
This content was published on
Switzerland is open to compromise in talks on the IP rights of Covid-19 vaccines and drugs at the World Trade Organization.
Legal victory for Lindt in German chocolate bunny case
This content was published on
The Federal Court of Justice delivered its verdict on Thursday in a battle between Lindt and German company Heilemann, which in 2018 also marketed a chocolate bunny in a gold foil wrap. Lindt claimed it had a trademark on the colour, acquired by use, and that Heilemann had infringed this trademark and should be prevented…
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.