German Patent Office publishes 2024 annual report

The German Patent and Trademark Office (DPMA) observed a clear increase in the number of inventions by German companies and research institutions in 2024 compared to the previous year. The number of domestic patent applications amounted to 40,064, which is 4% more than in 2023. Applications from abroad amounted to 19,196 (down 4.8%). In total, 59,260 patent applications were filed, which is 1% more than in the previous year. The DPMA also saw an increase in applications for trademarks and designs. Last year, 80,365 new trademark applications were filed, which is 2.1% more than in 2023. A total of 3,951 design applications were filed, which is an increase of 4.7%. Applicants can file up to 100 individual designs in a design application. The number of individual designs amounted to 29,962, which is 2.4% more than in the previous year. It can therefore be assumed that after a continuous decline in design applications, this trend has reversed. In contrast, utility model applications fell slightly: the DPMA received 9,577 applications, which is 1.3% less. Like patents, utility models protect technical inventions, but unlike patents, utility models are not examined for novelty and inventiveness before registration. "Despite the difficult economic situation, German companies are still investing heavily in research and development and seeking to protect their innovations, which is a positive signal," said Eva Schewior, President of DPMA. "Intellectual property rights are particularly important for our society. They are essential to the competitiveness of companies and promote the growth and prosperity of society. In addition, the patent system stimulates innovation and helps to meet social challenges."

In 2024, the DPMA was very efficient in all areas of IP, completing a total of 45,242 patent examination procedures, an increase of 6%. The number of granted patents is particularly encouraging: in 2024, the DPMA provided protection for 23,944 inventions, a significant increase of 7.1% over the previous year. In 21,298 cases, a patent was not granted - because the examiner rejected the application, the applicant withdrew the application or the due fees were not paid. The grant rate is therefore 52.9%.

In the area of trademarks, the DPMA completed 74,889 procedures, an increase of 5.8%, of which 49,991 were completed by way of registered trademarks. In terms of designs, the office completed 30,675 procedures, an increase of 3.1%, of which 28,024 were completed by way of registrations. In addition, 9,921 utility model procedures were completed, and 9,064 resulted in utility model registrations.

Automotive industry: Replacement of internal combustion engines by electric mobility and in-car infotainment systems

In the patent field, the previous trend continues: the automotive industry is still the leading industry. As in the previous year, the top 10 companies in terms of number of applications are all automobile manufacturers and suppliers, although in a different order. Moreover, the top 10 companies account for almost one third of all patent applications and have an above-average growth rate in applications. Robert Bosch GmbH takes the first place with 4,496 applications, followed by Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (2,297) and Mercedes-Benz Group AG (2,138).

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) groups certain technology categories into technical fields. In the DPMA, the technical field "Transportation" continued to account for the largest number of applications: 11,153 applications were received in this field, an increase of 4.8% compared to 2023.

In the area of "Mobility" technology, the innovation drivers were the trends towards e-mobility and vehicle infotainment systems. The B60K category, which includes, for example, vehicle instrument panels, grew by 33.4 percent. Development activities included, for example, new displays and new options for operating instruments in the cockpit via voice and gestures. The number of applications for e-mobility also continued to rise sharply: the category for technologies for propulsion systems for electrically driven vehicles (B60L) grew by 14.4 percent.

Battery technology is essential for e-mobility. The H01M technology area, which includes batteries and fuel cells, is part of the “Electrical machinery, equipment, energy” technology area and was once again the strongest technology category in the DPMA with 2,627 applications (+3.4%). In this category, manufacturers and suppliers from the automotive industry were the most active applicants. However, companies in this industry are gradually withdrawing from innovative activities in the internal combustion engine: patents were filed for only 1,706 inventions in the “Engine, Pump, Turbine” technology area, which is 5.9% less than in 2023 and only slightly more than one-third of the number of applications received in this area in 2016 (5,144).

Mechanical engineering remains the strongest technology sector. In 2024, WIPO divides the field of technology into five technology sectors. "Mechanical engineering" continues to be the strongest sector in the DPMA with 23,765 applications, followed by the "electricity" (17,772) and "instruments" (9,162) sectors. This is followed by the "chemical" sector (4,382) and the "other fields" sector (3,897), which includes civil engineering, furniture, games and other consumer products.

Baden-Württemberg has extended its lead in the patent ranking of the German federal states. Every year, the DPMA prepares a ranking of the German federal states. In this ranking, Baden-Württemberg ranks first with 15,494 patent applications (+5.7%) and a large lead. In contrast, Bavaria is in second place (11,361 applications, +5%). Third place is once again North Rhine-Westphalia (5,336 applications, -3.6%). If the number of applications is compared with the population of the states, the ranking is slightly different. With 137 patent applications per 100,000 inhabitants, Baden-Württemberg surpasses Bavaria (85). However, third place belongs to Lower Saxony (38). These states are home to Germany's major automobile manufacturers. It is worth noting that Thuringia ranks fifth (25), far ahead of the eastern German states.

In terms of trademark applications , the above-mentioned German federal states once again ranked in the top three, but in the reverse order: North Rhine-Westphalia was far ahead of Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg with 21,568 applications, with 11,431 and 8,336 applications respectively. If the population of each state is taken into account, Hamburg ranks first with 163 trademark applications per 100,000 inhabitants, followed by Berlin (126) and North Rhine-Westphalia (119). If you apply for a trademark, you must specify the categories of goods and services for which you seek protection. Filing trends in the trademark field are as follows: the class most frequently requested by applicants is Class 35 (“Advertising; business management, organization and administration; office functions”), indicated in 23,986 applications (-0.3%), followed by Class 41 (“Education; Training; Recreation; Sports and cultural activities”), indicated in 19,284 applications (+5.3%), and Class 9 (“Electronic equipment and instruments; Computer hardware; Software; Optical equipment”), indicated in 15,025 applications (+6%).

Regarding design applications, the top product categories were “clothing and accessories” (indicated in 4,415 applications, +14.7%), “furniture” (4,394 applications, -1.7%), and “graphic symbols and logos, surface patterns, decoration, interior and exterior layout” (3,631 applications, -3.4%).

DPMA revenues increase
In 2024, the DPMA will have a surplus of €228.4 million. This is a 5.5% increase on the previous year and will benefit the federal budget. Revenues come almost entirely from expenses, totaling €494.5 million (+2.6%). Expenditure is €266.1 million, little changed from the previous year.