The EPO Technology Dashboard (formerly Patent Index) shows strong growth in demand for patents for digital and energy technologies. The US and Germany remain top countries of origin, while China enters top three for first time. Uptake for Unitary Patents was high, especially amongst European patentees and SMEs.
A record number of patent applications – 201 974 – were filed at the EPO in 2025, an increase of 1.4% on the previous year. Applications from Europe, including all 39 EPO member states, rose by 0.4% (EU27: +0.7%), while those from outside Europe were up 2.1%.
https://www.epo.org/en/news-events/news/demand-european-patents-2025-exceeded-200-000-first-time