The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) has recently published two reports that provide a detailed overview on innovation trends at global level.
The first in the World Intellectual Property Indicators 2024, which collects data useful to understand the performance of patent, trademark and design filings; the second one is the Global Innovation Index 2024, which reveals the leader global economies the field of innovation.
The World Intellectual Property Indicators 2024
The World Intellectual Property Indicators 2024 report (WIPI 2024) identifies the global trends in intellectual property of 2023, thanks to data provided by WIPO and national and regional IP offices.
The first key point highlighted by the report is an improvement in the fields of patent.
Patent applications in fact have increased of 2,7% with respect to 2022, reaching a record number of 3,5 million. The innovators who submitted the largest number of patent applications are mainly from:
- China
- United States of America (U.S.)
- Japan
- Republic of Korea
- Germany
- India
Notably, India registered the fastest growth in patent filings in 2023, increased by 15.7%.
Another particularly interesting aspect is related to sectors. Computer technology continues to be the most prevalent technology in published patent applications worldwide, accounting for 12.4 percent of all filings.
In terms of designs, the report also shows a growth. Filing applications increased in 2023 by 2.8% over the previous year, reaching 1.5 million. Italy in this field recorded the fastest growth in 2023 (+15.7 percent).
For what pertains to trademarks, the GII 2024 confirmed the negative trend already found in 2022. The report in fact registered in 2023 a decrease by 1,3%, with a total number of filings estimated at 11.6 million. Asia dominates the global trademark filing landscape, accounting for 66.7% of the total.
Global Innovation Index 2024
The Global Innovation Index 2024, now in its 17th edition, allows to add more details to this overview. WIPO published this index every year and provides a report on the performances of more than 130 global economies, classifying them based on their innovation ecosystem.
The scores of the GII 2024 are calculated by averaging two sub-indices:
- Innovation Inputs which measures the elements of the economy that facilitate innovative activities in a certain country namely: institutions, human capital and research, infrastructure, market sophistication and business sophistication.
- Innovation Outputs which, on the other hand, measures the outcomes of the innovative activities put in place and includes in particular knowledge outputs, technology outputs, and creative outputs
Key points of GII 2024
This edition saw Switzerland in first position in the rankings of GII 2024 for its 14th consecutive year, with a score of 67.5, obtaining great scores both in Input Innovation and Output Innovation indicators.
Sweden follows in second position (64.5) and United States of America in third position. Singapore (61.2) climbed in 4th position, preceding United Kingdom (61.0).
Italy remains in 26th position with a score of 45.3. Analyzing the single indicators, it is interesting to note that it is in 18th position globally for creative outputs and at 19th position for technology and research outputs. The lowest score however was registered in the indicator relating to institutions.
After the boom of 2020-2022 years, this edition of the Global Innovation Index highlights economic conditions characterized by decreases in the research and development investments, as well as a reduction of scientific publications and risk capital investments.
However, there are also some positive signs. As we saw in the WIPI 2024, technology continues to rapidly grow, particularly in sectors relating to health assistance and computing power.
The adoption of technology has increased in many fields, such as in the field of 5G, robotics and electric vehicles.
Conclusions
Despite a decline in investment and uncertain economic conditions, the two reports reveal the importance of creative and innovative activities in driving the global economy.
In the publication of the WIPI 2024, WIPO Director General Daren Tang wishes that this data can guide global economies to take strategic decisions for the future of innovation and of the planet.
“As policymakers confront complex social and economic challenges, we trust that the insights from the report’s comprehensive dataset will serve not only as a reliable reference but also as a strategic tool for understanding IP trends and gaining insights into the global development of innovation”.
World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) (2024). World Intellectual Property Indicators 2024. Geneva: WIPO. DOI: 10.34667/tind.50133).