The number of international patent applications edged up 0.3 percent last year to a record 278,100, the United Nations' World Intellectual Property Organization said.
According to the World Intellectual Property Organization, the number of applications in Asia is still higher than other regions, accounting for 54.7% of the total.
China is still the country with the largest number of international patent applications under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) of the World Intellectual Property Organization, ahead of the United States and Japan. The Patent Cooperation Treaty simplifies the process of obtaining patent protection in several countries.
WIPO said: "The overall modest growth rate of patent filings reflects the prevailing challenging economic environment in 2022. Despite these circumstances, businesses continue to invest in innovation and intellectual property."
In 2022, Chinese companies will top the list with 70,105 patent applications, followed by the United States with 59,056 applications, followed by Japan with 50,345, South Korea with 22,012 and Germany with 17,530.
In addition to the above five countries, the top 10 also includes France, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Sweden and the Netherlands.
It is worth noting that India, which ranks 12th in the number of patent applications, and South Korea, which ranks 4th, have seen a sharp increase in the number of applications, with an increase of 25.4% and 6.2% respectively.
Daren Tang, secretary-general of the World Intellectual Property Organization, said: "In 2022, international IP filings are largely at a standstill. Businesses continue to invest in innovation despite difficult economic conditions and reduced risk financing."
Chinese tech giant Huawei remained the top filer of patent applications, with 7,689 filings, ahead of South Korean rival Samsung's 4,387. The number of Samsung applications increased by 44.3%, and the growth rate jumped to the second place.
Huawei also leads U.S. wireless communications developer Qualcomm with 3,855, Japanese company Mitsubishi Electric with 2,320 and Swedish telecommunications equipment maker Ericsson with 2,158.
Computer technology accounted for the largest proportion of patent applications, reaching 10.4%, followed by digital communication, electrical machinery and medical technology. In 2022, eight of the top 10 projects in tech will see growth.
"After particularly strong growth in health-related technologies the previous year, digital technology is back as the fastest-growing field in filings in 2022," said the World Intellectual Property Organization.