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Statistics around patents, trademarks and Co.
Number of the month: 11,327 entries for "Jugend forscht" (Youth Researches)
With 11,327 entries 
"Jugend forscht" has made a strong start to its 61st competition round. This represents an increase of 9.4 per cent over the previous year. The proportion of girls is 41 per cent, the second highest figure since the competition was founded. Biology, technology and chemistry are once again among the most popular subject areas. The DPMA is a member of the jury for the Bavarian "Jugend forscht" competition and wishes all participants every success in the 2026 competition year.
More numbers of the month
On World Statistics Day, we take a look at the total number of patent applications: from 1 October 1948 to the end of 2024, the DPMA received a total of 4,473,798 patent applications (including PCT applications in the national phase). The externer Link World Statistics Day on 20 October draws attention to the importance of reliable data for social, economic and technological developments. At the DPMA, too, figures provide insights into innovation dynamics and long-term trends in industrial property protection. You can find key figures on patents, trade marks, designs and other intellectual property rights in our annual statistics in issue 3 of the "Blatt für Patent-, Muster- und Zeichenwesen (BlPMZ)" (Journal of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks), in our digital annual report and, last but not least, on our statistics pages.
Digital annual report 2024
Patent applications for digital agricultural technologies are growing by 9.4 percent annually, three times faster than the average for all technology sectors. Germany ranks second worldwide in patent applications in the field of digital agriculture, directly behind the US. German companies such as Claas, Amazonen Werke, BASF, Robert Bosch, and Bayer are among the innovation drivers in smart farming. Germany also ranks second worldwide in the field of crop production, a particularly dynamic growth segment.
German universities are also making a significant contribution to innovation in digital agriculture: among the EPO member states, they have filed the most European patents in this field.
European Patent Office (EPO) Observatory on Patents and Technology
The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) recently published the Global Innovation Index 2024. Germany was ranked 9th out of 133 economies assessed - and thus fell slightly by one place compared to the last two years. In view of this, DPMA President Eva Schewior has called for more dynamism in securing Germany's innovative capacity. "The Global Innovation Index currently confirms that Germany still has a strong and very effective innovation system," said the DPMA President. "However, the study also clearly shows that we have difficulties with the digital transformation of the economy and society. If we lose touch here, our ability to innovate will suffer considerably. The consequence would be a significant decline in our social prosperity."
Press Release
Inventors around the world are filing more than 40 IP applications every minute - a clear sign of the high pace of innovation. WIPO Director General Daren Tang emphasised this figure at the WIPO General Assembly 2025 in Geneva as an expression of global creativity and inventiveness. In Germany, 59,260 patent applications were filed in 2024, of which around 40,000 were from Germany. This equates to one application every nine minutes and around 160 patent applications per day. Germany thus makes an important contribution to the international innovation landscape.
DPMA leadership meets partner offices at international level at the General Assembly of WIPO
Last year, Interpol seized counterfeit food (22,000 tonnes) and drinks (850,000 litres) worth a total of 91 million euros. Product piracy no longer only affects watches, handbags or clothing, but also food. Dangerous counterfeits are increasingly ending up on our plates. Counterfeit food can harbour considerable health risks. They have been proven to contain dangerous substances such as methanol, mercury, pesticides and insecticides. In addition, the production and distribution of counterfeit food is often part of organised crime.
'EUIPO warns: Beware of counterfeit food'
In 2024, a total of 620 IP applications relating to musical instruments were filed at the DPMA: 37 patents, 27 utility models, 70 designs (class 17) and 486 trade marks claiming class 15. With the motto "IP and Music - Feel the Beat of IP", World IP Day on 26 April underlines the importance of IP rights in the world of music.
Press release on World IP Day
In 2024, the German Patent and Trade Mark Office (DPMA) recorded a total of 3,951 design applications, which corresponds to an increase of 4.7 percent compared to the previous year. Up to 100 individual designs can be filed with a single design application. The total number of designs also rose to 29,962, which represents an increase of 2.4 percent. This means that a trend reversal can now be assumed for designs after a sustained decline.
Annual statistics 2024
Germany scores just 62.8 out of 100 points in the European Commission's new ‘She Figures Index’, putting it in 23rd place out of 27 EU countries. The index measures gender equality in research and innovation - while Sweden is at the top with 87.6 points, the German result shows a clear need to catch up.
There is a particular need for action in the area of research participation (gender distribution in publications, patent applications, approval of research proposals). In this area, Germany scored only 56.6 out of a possible 100 points.
Innovative Frauen im Fokus
At the beginning of January 2025, we recorded the three millionth electronic filing at the DPMA. From the first two submissions in 2003 to the first million in 2019 and the second million in June 2022 - the development shows how successful and fast the electronic system is growing. We are excited about the future and are already looking forward to the fourth million! Here you can find out more about and the advantages of electronic filing at the DPMA.
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Pictures: DPMA
Last updated: 18 December 2025
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