In a year marked by geopolitical tensions and economic headwinds, American ingenuity continues to lead accusations of global innovation. Despite a slight drop in overall patent applications, the US led the world again in 2024 with a European patent application. This has burned innovation across AI, biotechnology and medical technology.
According to the Patent Index 2024, which was just released by the European Patent Office (EPO), the US has once again requested the top spot for the most patent applications filed in Europe. US inventors and companies filed 47,787 patent applications last year, making 24% of all filings a staggering.
That’s more than any other country, including high-innovative levels like Germany, Japan, China and Korea.
Inside the Numbers: Where the US leads – and where it slips
The total number of patent applications remained stable at nearly 200,000 years ago, but the US saw a modest -0.8% DIP from the 2023 levels. Still, the numbers tell a bigger story. The US inventors have doubled in high-growth sectors such as AI, Biotech and Medical Tech.
Top 5 US Technology Sectors for EPOs in 2024:
Medical Technology – 5,995 Applications
Computer Technology – 5,776 applications (+11.4% previous year)
Digital Communications – 4,628 applications (-4.8%)
Pharmaceuticals – 3,090 applications (-16.9%)
Biotechnology – 3,055 applications (+11.1%)
The most notable growth came from AI-related subfields such as machine learning and pattern recognition. There, patent applications from the US increased by 20%. It’s a clear signal that not only do American tech companies respond to the wave of AI, they’re building it.
US tops global patent rankings in the European Patent Office – Qualcomm, Alphabet, Microsoft’s Lead Innovation Surge, AI, MedTech, and Biotech
Big Technology, Bigger Patents: Qualcomm, Microsoft, Alphabet leads
US companies continue to control the top rankings of EPOs, with six American companies landing in the global top 20 patent applications. Qualcomm is the leading charge, primarily in digital communications and AI, with 3,015 applications in fourth overall.
Other outstanding performers:
RTX (formerly Raytheon) – 2,061 applications, #1 of transport innovation
Alphabet (Google) – 1,171 applications, #1 in AI subfields
Microsoft – 1,131 applications, #5 with AI
Apple-806 Application
Interdigital-863 Application
These companies have filed thousands of patents across semiconductors, AI, medical devices, wireless technology and more.
California is a patent powerhouse and has a nationally-wide powerhouse.
In terms of geography, California is the epicenter of US innovation, contributing 15,730 patent applications more than the nations as a whole, such as France and South Korea. This is more than a third of all US submissions at the EPO.
Other Top Innovation Hubs:
These five states alone will promote the majority of US European patent activities promoted by robust ecosystems of AI, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, clean energy and aerospace.
Breaking the barrier: Female inventors acquire the ground
In a notable trend, 37% of all US applications named at least one female inventor exceed the European average of 25%. Although not equal yet, this rise represents a drive to advance gender equity advances in STEM innovation.
The rise of unified patents: US companies embrace simpler IP protection
The recently introduced single patent system was announced in 2023 to simplify intellectual property rights in 18 EU countries, but saw an increase in adoption between US businesses.
In 2024, 16% of US patents were converted to single patents (from 10.9% in 2023)
Top US recruits included Johnson & Johnson, Qualcomm and Alphabet
The move suggests that American companies view Europe not only as a market for expansion, but as a key region for protecting and commercializing intellectual property.
Samsung will regain its global crown, but the US holds its position
Globally, Samsung regained its place as the number one filer in European patent applications, followed by Huawei, LG, Qualcomm and RTX. However, with two US companies in the top five and several more in the top 20, the US remains the dominant force in shaping the future of technology.
Why is it important for startups?
For startups and scale-ups, this data is more than just statistics, a map of places where innovation can be enhanced. AI, biotechnology, and clean energy are not just buzzwords. They are a sector that sees true investment and protected innovation at the highest level.
If you’re building in these spaces, beware: Big Tech has invested heavily and is being watched closely by European regulators. The giants aren’t the only patents. They are your biggest asset in your moat, your value, and sometimes your acquisitions.
Source link
