Analysis shows a sudden increase in the number of patent applications in the key technology of battery technology, mainly from Asia and the United States - innovation activity in renewable energies is stagnating - annual main event of the German Patent- and Trademark Office provides important information on trends and new regulations relating to patents, Utility model, Trademarks and Designs
DPMA press release dated 27. March 2023 (abstract)
It is one of the key technologies for electric mobility and the comprehensive use of renewable energies: In battery technology, innovation activity has increased by leaps and bounds in recent years. In the past year 4.651 Patent applications published with effect for Germany – almost two and a half times as many as five years previously. alone by 2021 on 2022 increased the number of registrations 35,3 Percent. This is the result of an analysis, the German patent- and Trademark Office on the occasion of this year's DPMAUser Forum 2023 has performed. For the annual main event of the office, which will take place tomorrow in the DPMAforum in Munich and will be broadcast as a live stream on the DPMA's YouTube channel for all interested parties, the office expects more than that 500 participants.
Battery technology country comparison patent applications
In a country comparison, most of the patent applications in battery technology published last year came from the Republic of Korea (1.155). The country also has by far the greatest innovation dynamics: The number of registrations compared to the previous year 2022 about 69,9 percent higher. In place 2 was Japan with 955 published patent applications. German applicants were ranked in their home market 3 (898 Registrations). With an increase of 11,3 percent in a year-on-year comparison, however, Germany shows the least dynamic among the top 5 countries. The DPMA found huge increases in innovative activity in battery technology among applicants from Asia and the USA: The United States was the second-largest percentage gain behind Korea Republic (+43,4 Percent), on place 3 ended up China in this regard (+40,6 Percent). Japan had the fourth largest increase (+23,3 Percent; see also our pdf file fact sheet “Development batteries”).
Two German car manufacturers among the top 5
The great innovation dynamic in Asia is also reflected in the ranking of the companies with the most registrations: In place 1 the Korean LG Energy Solution was far behind, Ltd. (768 in 2022 published patent applications) in front of the Chinese Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (295). In place 3 and 4 The two German automobile manufacturers Bayerische Motoren Werke AG follow (175) and Volkswagen AG (125). In place 5 was the Japanese Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
“Efficient and powerful storage is essential, to achieve our goals for climate protection and energy sovereignty. The great innovation dynamic in battery technology is therefore an encouraging sign.", said DPMA President Eva Schewior. “However, the technology as such is also of outstanding economic importance. What kind of car the engine used to be, is the battery for an e-car today. So we should pay attention to that, that the innovation dynamic in this key technology is increasing even more in Germany.”
Patent applications for renewable energies are stagnating
In contrast to storage technology, innovation activity in the generation of renewable energies is stagnating (-2,4 Percent). The number of in 2022 published patent applications in solar technology, for wind power machines, in hydropower and in geothermal and biogas technology was, as in the recent past, at the level of the previous year. While registrations in solar technology increased (+5,0 Percent), they went back with the wind power machines (-8,9 Percent).
In the country ranking for 2022 German applicants are at the forefront in their home market, as in previous years. Germany occupies place in solar technology 1, ahead of the United States and China. The country is ranked when it comes to wind turbines 2 behind Denmark and ahead of the United States. In the areas of geothermal energy/biogas and hydropower, which are significantly weaker in registration, Germany is ranked 1 respectively 2 (see also our pdf file fact sheet “Renewable energy”).
Notes on the methodology: For the present evaluation, published patent applications with effect for Germany in the mentioned technical fields at the DPMA and the European Patent Office were considered without double counting. Patent applications will follow 18 months published. In 2022 newly registered inventions are therefore not yet included in the evaluation.
The most relevant technology classes were used for the analysis (IPC) evaluated. Since there are no completely tailored classes for the individual areas, there is no claim to completeness. Inventions may also be included, that do not fit the technical area under consideration.
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