United Kingdom - Patent applications, nonresidents

Patent applications, nonresidents in United Kingdom was 8,659 as of 2020. Its highest value over the past 40 years was 22,000 in 1980, while its lowest value was 6,439 in 2010.

Definition: Patent applications are worldwide patent applications filed through the Patent Cooperation Treaty procedure or with a national patent office for exclusive rights for an invention--a product or process that provides a new way of doing something or offers a new technical solution to a problem. A patent provides protection for the invention to the owner of the patent for a limited period, generally 20 years.

Source: World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), WIPO Patent Report: Statistics on Worldwide Patent Activity. The International Bureau of WIPO assumes no responsibility with respect to the transformation of these data.

See also:

Year Value
1980 22,000
1981 18,406
1982 16,563
1983 14,798
1984 13,735
1985 12,293
1986 11,063
1987 10,419
1988 9,935
1989 9,637
1990 8,928
1991 8,357
1992 7,839
1993 7,922
1994 8,081
1995 8,891
1996 9,821
1997 10,171
1998 10,083
1999 10,399
2000 10,697
2001 10,658
2002 10,907
2003 11,198
2004 10,776
2005 10,155
2006 8,261
2007 7,624
2008 6,856
2009 6,480
2010 6,439
2011 6,916
2012 7,865
2013 7,966
2014 7,844
2015 7,934
2016 8,183
2017 8,771
2018 8,076
2019 7,189
2020 8,659

Development Relevance: The Patent Cooperation Treaty (www.wipo.int/pct) provides a two phase system for filing patent. International applications under the treaty provide for a national patent grant only - there is no international patent. The national filing represents the applicant's seeking of patent protection for a given territory, whereas international filings, while representing a legal right, do not accurately reflect where patent protection is sought. Resident filings are those from residents of the country concerned. Nonresident filings are from applicants abroad. For regional offices applications from residents of any member state of the regional patent convention are considered nonresident filings. Some offices (notably the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office) use the residence of the inventor rather than the applicant to classify filings. Patent data are a great resource for the study of technical change in a country or region. Patent data provide a uniquely detailed source of information on inventive activity and the multiple dimensions of the inventive process (e.g. geographical location, technical and institutional origin, individuals and networks). Furthermore, patent data form a consistent basis for comparisons across time and across countries. Patent data can be used in the analysis of a wide array of topics related to technical change and patenting activity including industry-science linkages, patenting strategies by companies, internationalization of research, and indicators on the value of patents. Patent-based statistics reflect the inventive performance of countries, regions and firms, as well as other aspects of the dynamics of the innovation process such as co-operation in innovation or technology paths.

Limitations and Exceptions: A patent is an exclusive right granted for a specified period (generally 20 years) for a new way of doing something or a new technical solution to a problem - an invention. The invention must be of practical use and display a characteristic unknown in the existing body of knowledge in its field. Most countries have systems to protect patentable inventions. Unless otherwise stated, statistics on the number of resident and non-resident patent applications include those filed via the PCT system as PCT national/regional phase entries.

Statistical Concept and Methodology: Non-resident patent applications are from applicants outside the relevant State or region. Patent data cover applications and grants classified by field of technology. International applications series distinguish four subcategories: a) patents taken out by residents of a country in that country; b) patents taken out in a country by non-residents of that country; c) total patents registered in the country or naming it; d) patents taken out outside a country by its residents. Data on patents granted only distinguish between patents awarded to residents and to non-residents. A patent provides protection for the invention to the owner of the patent for a limited period, generally 20 years. Patent applications are worldwide patent applications filed through the Patent Cooperation Treaty procedure or with a national patent office for exclusive rights for an invention - a product or process that provides a new way of doing something or offers a new technical solution to a problem.

Aggregation method: Sum

Periodicity: Annual

Classification

Topic: Infrastructure Indicators

Sub-Topic: Technology