The innovation ecosystem in Spain continues to strengthen, according to the data published by the European Patent Office (OEP). In 2024, Spanish companies and inventors registered a total of 2,192 applications from European patents, which represents a 3% increase compared to the previous year. This figure places Spain among countries with the highest growth in this area within Europe during the last decade, with an accumulated increase of 44% since 2015.
The president of the OEP, António Campinos, highlighted the impact of this data on the current economic context: “Despite political and economic uncertainties, European companies and inventors have continued to bet on research and development, which reflects their ability to stay at the technological avant -garde.”
Universities and research centers
The Higher Council for Scientific Research (CSIC) was consolidated again as the main applicant for patents in Spain, followed by several universities and research centers. Together, these academic and scientific institutions submitted more than 100 patent applications.
Among private companies, Amadeus led the ranking with 43 applications, followed by Technalia Research & Innovation (24) and Telefónica (21). Also highlight the contributions of Autotech Engineering (21) and Horse Powertrain Solutions (19), the latter specialized in internal combustion engines of low emissions.
Biotechnology and transport, growing sectors
The pharmaceutical sector remained the most active in terms of patent applications with 221 records, reflecting a 11.6% growth compared to the previous year. Medical technology and biotechnology also showed a prominent performance, with 163 applications each and increases of 14% and 8.7%, respectively.
The transport sector experienced the highest year -on -year growth with an increase of 30.7%, reaching a total of 149 applications. This dynamism responds to an increasing commitment to sustainable mobility and the development of new vehicle technologies. On the contrary, the machinery, devices and electricity sector, which includes innovations in clean energy, recorded a 13%decrease.
Spain records the greatest growth of Europe in European patent applications: 44% increased in the last decade
Leading regions in innovation
At the territorial level, Catalonia continues to lead the innovative activity with 724 patent applications in 2024, representing 33% of the national total. However, the region experienced a slight decrease of 1% compared to the previous year. The Community of Madrid took second place with 413 applications and a growth of 2.2%, followed by the Basque Country with 326 applications and a remarkable increase of 24.4%.
As for cities, Barcelona was the most active with 331 applications, surpassing Madrid, which registered 244. Both capitals remain among the 50 European cities with the greatest activity in the Patent Registry.
Spain leads in female participation in innovation
A prominent aspect of the report is the high female participation in patent applications in Spain. 42% of applications included at least an inventor woman, which places the country at the head of Europe in this indicator. In comparison, the average of the 39 Member States of the OEP is 25%, while countries such as France and Belgium record 31%and 32%, respectively.
Global perspectives and challenges for the future
Worldwide, the United States continued to lead in volume of European patent applications, followed by Germany, Japan and China. However, South Korea was the country with the highest growth in 2024, with a 4.2% increase in its records.
In the business field, Samsung recovered first position as the greatest patent applicant in the OEP, moving Huawei to second place. The ranking also included other great technology such as LG, Qualcomm and RTX.
The growth of patent applications in Spain reflects a positive trend in the protection of intellectual property and the impulse to innovation. However, experts in the sector insist on the need to continue strengthening support for entrepreneurs and small businesses to convert these inventions into viable and competitive projects in the international market.
