Innovation: Number of Patents Filed in Italy Grew in 2019

According to the 2019 patent index, last year Italian applications submitted to the EPO grew by 1.2%, compared to +1% the previous year, and above the +0.9% EU average. Overall, there were 4,456 Italian patent applications. In 2019 confirmed the positive trajectory of recent years: from 2014 to 2019 patent applications to the EPO were up 22%. Lombardy is one of the most innovative regions of Europe and in 2019 saw a 6.2% increase in patent applications. The data also shows that Lombardy, Veneto and Emilia Romagna together represent 60% of all Italian applications. The sector in which the country has applied for the most patents is transport and the Italian company submitting the most applications was G.D. (47), followed by Pirelli and Prysmian (both 46). “Patent applications from Italy show a clear and stable upward trend, demonstrating that Italian companies continue to recognize the importance - for innovation - of investment in research and development," commented EPO president Antonio Campinos.