UPC, the Spanish university with the most European patent applications in 2024

A context of growth in innovation and patents in Spain

The number of patent applications in Spain has steadily increased over the last decade, with 2,192 applications submitted in 2024, representing a 3% increase compared to the previous year and a 44% increase over the past ten years. This growth rate surpasses that of other leading European economies, such as Germany (0.9% over the same period), France (2%), Italy (22%), the United Kingdom (20%) and Poland (22%). Despite this positive trend, Spain is still far from the absolute figures of other countries: more than 25,000 patents were registered in Germany, nearly 11,000 in France, and over 47,000 in the United States.

Regarding activity within Spain, Catalonia remains the leading region in patent applications, followed by Madrid, the Basque Country and Andalusia. At the European level, Catalonia ranks as the eighteenth region with the highest number of patent applications, standing out in strategic sectors such as pharmaceuticals, medical technology and biotechnology. Among the most active institutions in patent applications are the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Amadeus, Telefónica, Autotech Engineering, Ficosa, the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, and the Tecnalia Foundation.

UPC: A leading university in innovation and patents

UPC not only leads the ranking of Spanish universities in European patent applications in 2024 but has also established itself as one of the main institutions in innovation in Spain. With 298 European patent applications between 2000 and 2020, UPC ranks among the five Spanish universities with the highest number of patents and among the top three in Catalonia, according to a report from the European Patent Office (EPO) Patent and Technology Observatory.

At the European level, universities have significantly increased their patent activity, accounting for 10.2% of all patent applications submitted in Europe. In Spain, this percentage rises to 14.6%. The report highlights the importance of collaboration between universities and companies to increase the number of patent applications and ensure their effective transfer to the market.

Graph: Top 10 Spanish entities by number of patent applications in 2024.
Source: Patent Index 2024 by Countries: Spain, European Patent Office.

What is a patent, and why is it important for UPC?

A patent is an exclusive right granted by a state or supranational body that protects an invention and prevents third parties from manufacturing, using, or selling it without authorisation for a specified period. For UPC, filing patents is key to ensuring the protection of technological advances developed within its research groups and facilitating their application in society through technology transfer agreements with companies and institutions.

UPC researchers who drive the protection of their inventions through patents gain several benefits. These include the ability to commercialise their developments through licences or spin-offs, increased visibility of their research, and institutional and academic recognition. Furthermore, patents help establish strategic collaborations with the industrial sector and strengthen funding acquisition for new projects.

New training in intellectual and industrial property

To promote knowledge protection and enhance technology transfer, UPC, in collaboration with the Doctoral School and the European Patent Office (EPO), launched the "Create - Protect - Innovate" course yesterday as part of the Modular IP Education Framework (MIPEF) programme. This training, which has 59 registered participants in its initial implementation phase, is aimed at doctoral students and researchers seeking to gain an introduction to intellectual and industrial property rights.

The course provides a practical perspective on how to protect intangible assets and integrate them into a business strategy. Participants will have access to an official EPO certification after completing five modules with a final test and will receive support from experts through three live sessions and two tutored forums.

The Spring 2025 edition will take place from 24 March to 25 June and represents a key opportunity to deepen knowledge on protecting technological innovation at the university.

UPC’s Innovation Management Service

To drive knowledge protection and transfer, UPC has its Innovation Management Service (SGI). The role of SGI includes supporting technological maturation and advancing technology readiness levels (TRL) to bring innovations closer to the market, by valuing technologies developed at UPC, protecting intellectual and industrial property results to integrate them into the university’s technological offering, creating spin-offs based on research results, and fostering an entrepreneurial culture within the UPC community.