German Patent Office: Germany is better at digital technology than expected

Domestic industry and research institutions are gradually catching up with the lag in the development of digital technologies. Last year, the number of published digital patent applications from Germany increased by over 12 percent to a total of 5,051, as the Patent and Trademark Office (DPMA) in Munich announced. German applicants were in fifth place behind the USA, China, South Korea and Japan. Strongly represented: the technology group Bosch.

However, those from China increased even more strongly than German patent applications in key digital technologies, with an increase of a good 14 percent.

USA and China far ahead

“The positive trend in key digital technologies gives hope that we can help shape future markets,” said DPMA President Eva Schewior. In absolute numbers, the gap to the two leading nations, the USA and China, is still large: in 2025, over 15,000 digital patent applications were published from the USA and over 10,000 from China. The gap to South Korea (5,707 published registrations) and Japan (5,266) is less large.

The reason for the publication is the upcoming Hannover Messe, which opens its doors next Monday. The figures do not reflect the latest status as patent applications are only published after a period of 18 months.

Bosch ranks fourth in computer technology

According to the DPMA, the increase in German applicants was particularly strong in the technology field of “computer technology”, which includes, among other things, developments in the area of ​​artificial intelligence. The top applicant was the South Korean Samsung group, ahead of Microsoft and the Chinese company Huawei. Bosch, a German company, was in fourth place.

In addition to “computer technology”, the Munich federal authority evaluated the published patent applications with effect for Germany in digital communications technology, semiconductors, audiovisual technology and data processing for business purposes. The figures from both the German and the neighboring European Patent Office were included, and the authors deducted duplicate patent applications.

(olb)