The Spanish Patent and Trademark Office (OEPM) has published its annual report, “The OEPM in Figures 2023,” providing a detailed overview of activities related to the protection of industrial property in Spain.
This report reflects significant growth in industrial property in Spain, highlighting a 10.4% increase in patent applications. There was also a 6.5% rise in utility models and an impressive 33.6% increase in industrial designs. Women inventors have a significant presence, particularly in the biotech sector.
These figures highlight the country's robust innovation activity and the growing importance of protecting intellectual property.
Inventions: Patents and Utility Models
Patents
In 2023, 1,455 patents were filed with the OEPM, a 10.4% increase compared to 2022. This increase is primarily due to the growth in the number of PCT applications in the national phase, which accounted for 18.2% of the total, compared to an average of 4.5% in previous years.
Patent applications include both national applications and those resulting from the entry into the national phase of a PCT application originating from WIPO.
Among the top 20 patent applicants, 17 are public institutions or universities, with the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) once again leading the list with 50 applications.
The autonomous communities with the highest number of patent applications filed 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 the way, although the number of applications fell by 23.2%. Other notable sectors included furniture, gaming, and civil engineering, with a significant increase in engines, pumps, and turbines (55.6%).
The report includes gender-specific data, showing that 25.5% of patent applications are filed by female inventors, and that 63.5% of the patents filed had at least one female inventor. Female researchers are more prevalent in the biotech sector.
Utility Models
As for utility models, in 2023, 2,807 utility model applications were filed, a 6.5% increase compared to 2022, returning to levels seen before 2020 and 2021. Catalonia led with 17.7% of the applications, 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 was lower than for patents, and 29.8% of the utility models filed had at least one female inventor.
Distinctive Signs: Trademarks and Trade Names
Brands
In 2023, 48,773 national trademark applications were filed (1,495 of which were filed by non-residents of Spain).
Among the top 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 was filed under the class “Advertising; Commercial and Administrative Management” of the Nice Classification.
Trade Names
In 2023, 15,124 business names were registered, a 21.5% increase from 2022 and the highest number on record.
The Community of Madrid is where the most distinctive marks have been applied for.
Industrial Design
A total of 14,590 industrial designs were filed in 2023, a 33.6% increase from the previous year—a figure that stands out from the rest.
The regions with the most applications were Catalonia (22.4%) and the Valencian Community (19.8%).
The most active classes in the Locarno Classification were Clothing and Haberdashery, Graphic Symbols, and Ornaments.
This report highlights the importance of registering intangible assets and reflects the vitality and diversity of the industrial property sector in Spain.