The Spanish Patent and Trademark Office (SPTO) has published its annual report "The SPTO in figures 2023", providing a detailed overview of the activities related to the protection of Industrial Property in Spain.
This report reflects a notable growth in industrial property in Spain, highlighting a 10,4% increase in patent applications. There is also a 6,5% increase in utility models and an impressive 33,6% increase in industrial designs. Women inventors have a significant presence, standing out in the biotech sector.
These data show the robust innovative activity of the country and the growing importance of the protection of intangibles.
Inventions: Patents and Utility Models
Patents
In 2023, 1.455 were requested patents at the OEPM, an increase of 10,4% compared to 2022. An increase that is mainly due to the growth in the number of PCT applications in the national phase, which represented 18,2% of the total, compared to an average of 4,5, XNUMX% in previous years.
Patent applications include both national ones and those resulting from the entry into the national phase of a PCT application from the WIPO.
In the top 20 positions for patent applicants, 17 are public centers or Universities, with the Higher Council for Scientific Research (CSIC) again in the lead, with 50 applications.
The autonomous communities with the highest number of patent applications by residents were the Community of Madrid (24,7%), the Valencian Community (16,6%) and Catalonia (13,4%).
In terms of technology sectors, Medical Technology led, although with a 23,2% decrease in the number of applications. Other notable sectors were Furniture, games, and Civil engineering, with a notable increase in Engines, Pumps and Turbines (55,6%).
The report adds gender figures and we can see how 25,5% of patent applications are from women inventors, and in 63,5% of the patents filed there was at least one woman inventor. Female researchers have a greater presence in the Biotech sector.
Utility Models
As for Utility Models, in 2023, 2.807 utility models were requested, an increase of 6,5% compared to 2022, returning to levels prior to 2020 and 2021. Catalonia led with 17,7% of the requests, followed by the Community of Madrid ( 16,3%) and the Valencian Community (15,2%).
The sectors with the highest number of applications were Furniture and Games and Civil Engineering, with increases of 12,1% and 18,4%, respectively. The percentage of female inventors was 16,9%, which is lower than in patents, and in 29,8% of the utility models presented there was at least one female inventor.
Distinctive signs: Trademarks and trade names
Partner Brands
During 2023, 48.773 national trademark applications were filed (1.495 from non-residents in Spain).
Among the largest applicants, the Spanish Radio and Television Corporation stood out, with 116 applications, followed by the Madrid City Council (63) and the Complutense University (49).
As in previous years, the largest number of trademark applications occurred in the “Advertising; Commercial and Administrative Management” corresponding to the Nice classification.
Tradenames
In 2023, 15.124 trade names were applied for, an increase of 21,5% compared to 2022, the highest number on record.
The Community of Madrid is where the most distinctive signs have been requested.
Industrial Designs
14.590 were requested industrial designs in 2023, an increase of 33,6% compared to the previous year, a figure that stands out above the rest.
The communities with the most requests were Catalonia (22,4%) and the Valencian Community (19,8%).
The classes of the Locarno Classification with the greatest activity were Articles of Clothing and Haberdashery, Graphic Symbols and Ornamental Objects.
This report highlights the importance of the registration of intangibles and reflects the vitality and diversity of the field of Industrial Property in Spain.
