China Dominates Global Patent Filings in 2024, WIPO Report Reveals

China Leads Global Innovation Landscape

China solidified its position as a global leader in innovation during 2024, filing an impressive 1.8 million patent applications, which accounts for nearly half of the worldwide total. This significant achievement was highlighted in the latest World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) report, underscoring China's sustained growth in intellectual property (IP) activity. The country's filings represent a substantial lead over other nations, including the United States.

Record-Breaking Filings and Growth

According to WIPO data, global patent filings reached a record high of 3.7 million applications in 2024, marking a 4.9 percent increase from the previous year. This growth represents the fastest year-on-year rate since 2018. China's contribution was pivotal, with its filings growing by 9.3 percent year-on-year, the fifth consecutive year of increase and its fastest growth rate since 2018. In comparison, the United States recorded 501,831 filings, placing China's volume at more than three times that of the U.S.

Broader Intellectual Property Dominance

China's leadership extended beyond just patent applications. The WIPO report indicated that China also dominated in other key intellectual property categories in 2024:

• Utility Models: China accounted for a remarkable 97.8 percent of global utility model filings.
• Industrial Designs: The country held a 58.2 percent share of patent applications for designs.
• Trademarks: China took 47.9 percent of the global share in trademark filings.

Furthermore, China was a primary driver in patents granted worldwide, with an estimated 2.1 million patents granted globally in 2024, a 5.2 percent increase from 2023. China alone issued approximately 124,000 additional patents compared to 2023.

Key Technological Areas and PCT Applications

The WIPO report also shed light on the technological fields attracting the most innovation. Computer technology emerged as the most frequently featured technology in published patent applications worldwide, comprising 13.2 percent of the total. Other prominent fields included electrical machinery, measuring, digital communication, and medical technology. Notably, digital communication surpassed computer technology as the leading field in Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) applications, representing 10.5 percent of the total.

In terms of international patent applications filed through the PCT system, China remained the top source in 2024 with 70,160 applications, followed by the U.S. with 54,087 and Japan with 48,397. Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei Technologies was identified as the top PCT filer, with 6,600 published applications.

Underlying Factors for China's IP Growth

Experts attribute China's sustained global leadership in patent filings to several strategic factors. These include 'sustained national innovation strategies, optimized innovation ecosystems, and accelerated industrial upgrading,' which collectively drive systemic progress in science and technology.