Patent and utility model applications grew in Spain during 2025, a figure that reflects not only increased innovative activity but also a growing focus on protecting technical developments. This is according to the annual report. The OEPM in Figures 2025Published by the Spanish Patent and Trademark Office, which analyzes each year the evolution of the main types of industrial property.
Specifically, patent applications increased by 12,1% compared to the previous year, reaching 1.450 applications. Meanwhile, utility model applications grew by 8,1%, with a total of 2.923 applications filed.
These data show that companies, universities, research centers, and entrepreneurs are paying increasing attention to protecting their technological developments. Because innovation involves protecting, defending, and transforming those inventions into a valuable business asset.
Patent applications are growing in Spain, and utility models are gaining ground.
In 2025, 1.450 patent applications were filed in Spain, including both national applications and international PCT applications that subsequently entered the national phase. This figure represents a 12,1% increase compared to 2024.
Regarding the number of European Patent applications of Spanish origin, there is also a slight increase, with 2.255 applications filed in 2025 compared to 2.192 applications in 2024.
Evolution of national and PCT patent applications in the national phase over the last 10 years
The growth in utility model applications is another key finding of the report. In 2025, 2.923 applications were filed, an 8,1% increase over the previous year.
It is important to note, contrary to the misconception that Utility Models are of "lesser value" than patents, that the main applicants for utility models in Spain include large multinational corporations and leading technology companies. This reflects the crucial importance of utility models within companies' intangible asset portfolios.
Evolution of national and PCT utility model applications in the national phase over the last 10 years.
Madrid, Catalonia, the Valencian Community and Andalusia lead the map of patents and utility models
The OEPM report shows a clear concentration of innovative activity in certain autonomous communities.
In patent applications, the Community of Madrid leads the ranking, followed by Catalonia, the Valencian Community, and Andalusia. Together, these four regions account for 60,3% of all Spanish patent applications filed with the Spanish Patent and Trademark Office (OEPM).
Distribution of national patent applications by Autonomous Community.
The trend is very similar in utility model applications, although with some interesting nuances. Madrid, Catalonia, the Valencian Community, and Andalusia again occupy the top positions, collectively accounting for 60% of applications. However, Galicia ranks fifth among the regions with the highest number of utility model applications, ahead of territories like the Basque Country and Castile and León, which previously held more prominent positions in the patent ranking. This difference reflects how utility models can have a particularly significant impact in certain industrial and business sectors, where applied technical improvements play a key role.
Inventions in the field of electronics and electrical power account for the largest volume of patent applications.
The OEPM report also allows for an analysis of the sectors where innovation is concentrated. In terms of patents, the subsectors with the greatest presence in 2025 were electronic devices, electronic engineering and electrical power; other special machinery; and chemical engineering.
Beyond the overall picture, it is particularly interesting to observe which sectors have gained ground compared to the previous year. In patents, pharmaceuticals have increased from 3,3% in 2024 to 4% in 2025, and medical technology from 4,9% to 5,2%, reflecting significant progress in a research-intensive sector. Sectors such as furniture and games have also grown, as has chemical engineering, albeit slightly.
Main technical subsectors of patents published in 2025 and 2024
In utility models, photography is somewhat different. The subsectors with the greatest presence in 2025 were furniture and games, civil engineering, other consumer products, and handling. Furniture and games again leads in applications and continues to grow, increasing from 13,1% in 2024 to 13,9% in 2025. Civil engineering, other consumer products, handling, other special machinery, and chemical engineering are also advancing.
To better understand the nature of these inventions, it is helpful to examine some of the categories included in the report. “Other consumer products” encompasses solutions applied to everyday objects, accessories, small devices, or products aimed at the end consumer that do not clearly fit into other, more specific categories. Meanwhile, “handling” refers to inventions related to the manipulation, transfer, lifting, loading, unloading, or packaging of objects and materials, such as transport systems, packaging devices, lifting mechanisms, or solutions to facilitate logistical and industrial processes.
This evolution fits with the nature of the utility model, a modality especially useful for protecting applied technical improvements, functional solutions and developments linked to products, devices or mechanisms with a direct practical application.
Main technical subsectors in utility model applications published in 2025 and 2024
In short, the data in the report The OEPM in Figures 2025 They show a positive evolution of innovation in Spain, both due to the increase in patent applications and the growth of utility models.
Choosing the right protection method is key. Not all inventions require the same strategy: in some cases, a patent will be the most suitable option; in others, a utility model may offer more agile protection tailored to the nature of the development. But there may also be technical assets or business know-how that should be protected through trade secrets or combined strategies.
Therefore, before protecting an invention, it is important to analyze the most appropriate strategy: whether to opt for a patent, a utility model, protection as a trade secret, or a combination of several approaches. The decision will depend on the nature of the invention, its stage of development, the target markets, and the company's business objectives.
All the graphics included in this article have been taken from the report "The OEPM in Figures 2025", published by the Spanish Patent and Trademark Office.
Bosco de la VegaSenior Associate and Agent of Patents Europeans of Elzaburu
