Patent filings from China reached an all-time high in 2024, according to a recent report released by the European Patent Office (EPO) on Tuesday. The surge highlights the growing influence of Chinese companies in the European technology market and their expanding global innovation footprint.
The report reveals that Chinese companies and researchers filed a total of 20,081 patent applications with the EPO in 2024, securing the fourth position globally. This accounts for 10.1% of all applications filed at the office, following behind the United States (47,787 applications), Germany (25,033 applications), and Japan (21,062 applications).
While patent filings from China experienced steady growth over the past decade, the increase in 2024 was modest, with a 0.5% rise compared to 2023. However, the numbers reveal a remarkable long-term trend: applications from China have more than doubled since 2018 and have quadrupled since 2014, underscoring the country’s continued commitment to innovation.
Huawei Leads the Charge
The momentum of China’s innovation ecosystem remains strong, with Huawei Technologies emerging as the top Chinese applicant. In 2024, Huawei filed 4,322 patent applications, ranking second overall at the EPO, only behind Samsung. Other major players from China in the top 50 include LG, Qualcomm, and RTX.
Huawei’s strong showing is indicative of China’s broader presence in global technological innovation. The company’s significant investment in research and development (R&D) continues to drive its dominance in the tech industry. Alongside Huawei, five additional Chinese companies ranked among the top 50 applicants at the EPO, a testament to the growing innovation capabilities of Chinese firms. These companies include:
CATL (14th place, 1,163 applications)
ZTE (16th place, 999 applications)
Xiaomi (20th place, 763 applications)
Vivo Mobile (28th place, 622 applications)
Tencent (49th place, 446 applications)
These rankings showcase the diverse sectors in which Chinese companies are making their mark, ranging from consumer electronics to telecommunications and beyond.
Battery Technologies Fuel Growth
One of the most notable trends highlighted in the report is the surge in patent filings related to battery technologies. Chinese firms saw significant growth in this area, especially in electrical machinery, apparatus, and energy, with a remarkable 32.2% year-on-year increase in 2024. A standout contributor to this growth was a sharp rise in patent applications for battery-related technologies, which soared by 79%. As a result, four Chinese companies—CATL, Eve Energy, BYD, and Zhuhai CosMX Battery—now rank among the top 15 applicants for battery technologies, up from just two in 2023.
This surge reflects China’s increasing focus on energy transition solutions, particularly in the rapidly expanding electric vehicle (EV) market. According to Luis Berenguer, a spokesperson for the European Patent Office, the innovation in battery technology is central to global efforts to transition to cleaner energy sources, making it a key area of technological advancement.
China’s Leading Technological Sectors
For China, the top three technical fields for EPO filings in 2024 were:
Digital communication
Electrical machinery and apparatus
Computer technology
These sectors mirror global trends, signaling China’s specialization in high-tech industries that are central to the digital transformation and the development of emerging technologies such as 5G, artificial intelligence (AI), and the Internet of Things (IoT).
China’s Growing Global Patent Influence
The strong showing by Chinese companies at the EPO is not only a testament to their innovation but also to China’s increasing integration into the global patent landscape. As Chinese firms continue to file more patents, they are helping shape the future of technology, particularly in high-growth sectors like renewable energy, telecommunications, and computing.
The growing number of patent filings also indicates that China is positioning itself as a leader in technological advancements that will have global impact. With continued investment in R&D, China’s influence on the global stage is expected to strengthen, fostering even more innovation across various industries.
As the global technology landscape continues to evolve, China’s rising patent filings at the EPO reflect the country’s central role in shaping the future of innovation.