Patents
This represents an increase of 4421 patents over the previous year.
For IP professionals
This is the portal for professionals working in the field of intellectual property. Here you'll find direct access to all necessary resources.
Quick links
Patent statistics
As of 31 December 2022, a total of 151,137 patents were in force in Switzerland. This can be divided into 5,550 national patents and 145,587 European patents. The first figure refers to inventions that have been filed for patent protection directly with the IPI. The considerably higher figure refers to patents filed with the European Patent Office (EPO), which are also in effect in Switzerland.
Top 10 patent-filing countries (2020)
In the list of countries who submitted the most applications in 2020, Switzerland ranks seventh with 8,112 applications. The USA takes the top spot with 44,293 applications.
Source: European Patent Office
Top 5 countries – applications per million inhabitants (2020)
In 2020, Switzerland was once again the country with the most patent applications per million inhabitants. With 966 patent applications, the number shows a slight decline in 2020 (988 in the previous year). The EU average was 146 applications per million inhabitants.
Source: European Patent Office
Assisted patent searches in 2022 – inventions under the microscope
The IPI offers assisted patent searches. Together with a patent expert, the client can take an in-depth look at questions relating to patenting an innovation. Clients receive valuable search results which support them in making decisions concerning their idea or invention. This service is aimed at SMEs, individual inventors, research institutes and companies supported by research and innovation funding.
In 2022, the IPI carried out 845 assisted patent searches. Most requests came from the canton of Zurich (245).
1. Zurich 245
2. Vaud 91
3. Bern 76
3. Aargau 76
5. St. Gallen 41
Source: The IPI
Patents in annual comparison
Anyone who wants to patent an invention in Switzerland must apply to the Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property (IPI). In addition, patents granted by the European Patent Office (EPO) are also active in Switzerland.
| 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
National applications | 1546 | 1 555 | 1 590 | 1 720 | 1 616 | 1 628 |
National patents granted | 782 | 724 | 747 | 615 | 615 | 771 |
National patents in force | 5550 | 6 623 | 6 782 | 7 066 | 7 235 | 7 351 |
Patents granted by EPO(1) | 145'587 | 140 093 | 132 770 | 124 635 | 115 684 | 109 407 |
Total number of patents in force | 151'137 | 146 716 | 139 552 | 131 719 | 122 800 | 116 758 |
(1) Patents in force: All patents, for which an annual fee had been paid in Switzerland as of 31.12.2022, were taken into account.
News
28.06.2023 | Patents, Trade Marks, Designs
Harmonisation and partial revision of guidelines as of 1 July 2023
...more
16.06.2023 | Patents, Trade Marks, Designs, IPI
The IPI simplifies IP rights management with new online services
...more
24.05.2023 | Media release, Copyright
Online service providers are to remunerate use of journalistic works
...more
Events
19.01.2023 | Law and policy, Event
Conference on Intellectual Property & Sustainability at the University of Geneva
...more