Samsung Ranks First in European Patent Office Filings Last Year... Korea Sets All-Time Record

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] Samsung surpassed Huawei, which ranked first the previous year, in the number of patent applications registered with the European Patent Office (EPO) last year, reclaiming the top spot among global companies. Thanks to the growth of domestic companies including Samsung and LG, South Korea set a new record with 9,106 EPO patent applications last year, a 9.2% increase despite the impact of COVID-19.

According to the 2020 Patent Index report released by the EPO on the 16th, the total number of EPO patent applications worldwide last year was 180,250, a 0.7% decrease compared to the previous year. South Korea ranked 6th among countries by number of EPO patent applications with 9,106 cases, a 9.2% increase from the previous year. Among the top 10 countries, only China (4th, 9.9% increase), France (5th, 3.1%), and Italy (10th, 2.9%) showed growth.

By company, Samsung filed 3,276 patents, overtaking Huawei, which had ranked first the previous year, to reclaim the top global position. Samsung filed 14.6% more patents than the previous year when it ranked second. It also recorded the highest growth rate among the top 10 companies. LG filed 2,909 patents last year, maintaining its 3rd place from the previous year. Other Korean companies following were POSCO (119), Hyundai Motor Company (112), and SK (93).

By sector, pharmaceutical and biotechnology patent applications increased the most last year, by 10.2% and 6.3% respectively. The sector with the most patent applications was medical technology, which reclaimed first place this year, overtaking digital communication that had ranked first in 2019. On the other hand, the transportation sector saw the largest decline (-5.5%).

The increase in South Korea’s patent applications was led by the 'electronic devices and apparatus, energy' sector, which includes many patents related to clean energy technology. The patent application growth rate in this sector was 22.7%, and it accounted for 13% of South Korea’s total patent applications last year, making it the most important sector. Additionally, the digital communication sector accounted for 12% of South Korea’s total patent applications, followed by the computer technology sector at 11%.