The European Patent Office (hereinafter EPO) announced the EPO Technology Dashboard 2025.
The number of patent applications accepted increased by an average of 1.4% overall, exceeding 200,000 for the first time.
In Japan, the electrical machinery, apparatus, energy, and computer technology fields grew, and with approximately 20,000 applications, Japan ranked 4th in the country rankings.
EPO Technology Dashboard 2025 Released; Japan Ranks 4th
The EPO Technology Dashboard 2025 was released by the EPO.
The number of patent applications accepted exceeded 200,000, setting a new record high.
Japan ranked 4th in the country rankings with approximately 21,000 applications, a +1.1% increase compared to FY2024, marking a turnaround from the stabilization and declining trend of the past few years.
The top five in the country patent application acceptance rankings are as follows:
- 1st: USA (-1% compared to FY2024, 47,008 cases)
- 2nd: Germany (-2.2%, 24,476 cases)
- 3rd: China (+9.7%, 22,031 cases)
- 4th: Japan (+1.1%, 21,304 cases)
- 5th: South Korea (+9.5%, 14,355 cases)
Patent Application Trends for Japan in FY2025
The top technical fields for European patent applications from Japan were electrical machinery, apparatus, energy, computer technology, and transport.
Electrical Machinery, Apparatus, and Energy
The increase compared to FY2024 was +13.6%, and battery-related applications in particular grew significantly at +23.8%.
In the EPO's top 10 companies for battery patent applications, three companies—Panasonic, Toyota, and AESC—ranked.
Both China and South Korea have also become leaders in global battery innovation.
Computer Technology
This field saw a +14.3% increase compared to FY2024, exceeding the average growth rate of the EPO as a whole.
What is noteworthy in this field is quantum technology.
Although the scale is small, there were 65 applications, a +171% increase compared to FY2024, representing the highest growth rate among major patent-filing countries.
Fujitsu claimed the top spot in patent applications in the quantum technology field for the entire EPO, strongly driving Japan's quantum technology sector.
The AI-related field saw 243 applications, a -9% decrease, which was a contrasting result to the USA (+26%), China (+4%), and Europe (+3%).
However, it must be noted that this figure comes after Japan achieved an average annual growth rate of +22% from 2019 to 2024.
Transport
There was a slight increase of +0.4% compared to FY2024, which was contrary to Japan's long-term declining trend and the overall EPO trend (-1.2%).
Toyota became the top applicant at the EPO in the automotive field and the EV technology sub-field, surpassing the Volvo Group, which was top in 2024 in both fields.
Furthermore, Toyota has become the top automaker in terms of total number of applications as well.
The top technical fields for the EPO as a whole, starting from 1st place, were computer technology (+6.1%), digital communication (+11.4%), and electrical machinery, apparatus, and energy (+5.3%).
In computer technology, the AI field led growth, and in digital communication, the global expansion of technology development competition for 6G mobile networks was a major factor for its high ranking.
In electrical machinery, apparatus, and energy, the background lies in the surge of battery innovation.
The top filing companies from Japan in 2025 are as follows:
- 1st: Sony Group (1,032 cases)
- 2nd: Panasonic (922 cases)
- 3rd: Canon (838 cases)
- 4th: Fujifilm (753 cases)
- 5th: Toyota Motor (748 cases)
The results reflect Japan's diverse innovation base.
The top filing companies worldwide in 2025 are as follows:
- 1st: Samsung (5,337 cases)
- 2nd: Huawei (4,744 cases)
- 3rd: LG (4,464 cases)
Seven Japanese companies ranked in the EPO Top 40.
Among them, Toyota showed significant growth, making a great leap from 43rd place in 2024 to 25th place.
Expanding Interest in Unitary Patents
The Unitary Patent system, launched in 2023, is a mechanism that provides innovators with simpler and more accessible patent protection in 18 EU member states with a single application to the EPO.
It is attracting great interest from outside Europe, especially from Japan.
The rate has risen from 7.9% in 2024 to 9.8% in 2025, and it appears it will continue to expand in the future.
Comments from the president, António Campinos
"The record number of patent applications confirms Europe's innovative power and its attractiveness as a global technology market.
The Technology Dashboard 2025 tracks progress and challenges across industrial sectors and assists European policymakers in identifying priority areas and focusing measures and investments toward technological sovereignty and strengthening competitiveness.
While the Unitary Patent system is already removing barriers and accelerating the transition to a more integrated European innovation market, continued focus is needed, particularly on strategic fields such as AI, semiconductors, healthcare, and quantum technology."
(Translated from the original Japanese source)
