Patent Statistics and Analysis 2021

GlobalData's Patent Statistics and Analysis 2021 report offers detailed insights into the patent technologies, top patent sectors, licensing & litigation trends, and social media & trend analysis. 

It has been observed that the pandemic has not hindered the overall filings and grants in 2021. This can be due to the initiative such as prioritized patent examination programs as well as oral proceedings through video conferencing by various patent offices amidst the pandemic. China's patent office remains at the top with YoY growth of 13% in filings and 31% in grants. Chinese corporations, universities, and startups are at the forefront of patent filings in 2021.

The patent filings trends show that edge computing is the next big technology followed by robotic process automation. Industry 4.0 is driving the patent filings in edge computing while growing demand for smarter automation is escalating the filings in robotic process automation.

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in the development of new methods of approaching consumers and boosting retail patent filings. Moreover, AI in retail continues to play a major role in improving demand forecasting, which assists in pricing decisions and optimizing product placement, among others. In the mining sector, the research was primarily focused on real-time monitoring of stress in excavation, pneumatic sand lifting, and monitoring of rock-breaking machines.

Key findings discussed in the report include:

• Despite the pandemic, patenting activity shot up in 2021 where China continued to exhibit its hegemony

• Asian companies spearhead the patenting activity, Samsung grabs the top spot while Huawei the fastest growing

• China dominates patent filings among startups and universities

• Edge computing has garnered the highest traction in patent filings followed by robotic process automation

• Quantum computing is moving beyond the initial hype

• Retail sees the highest patent filings influenced by the pandemic

• Patent licensing surges up to reduce the risk of infringement litigations

• Tech giants such as Apple, Google, and Samsung were abuzz in the news for infringement litigations

• South Africa’s patent grant for a world-first AI-powered system as an inventor has gathered steam

• LG’s rollable TV and Samsung’s foldable phone hit the headlines

Download our free report for more detailed insights.