UK patent filings dip, but ‘innovation is still happening’

European patent filings from the UK dipped slightly in 2025, but strong sector focused innovation, particularly in computer technology, AI and quantum, underlines the UK’s continuing position of strength, according to the European Patent Office (EPO) Technology Dashboard published in March.

UK based companies filed 5,875 European patent applications in 2025, down 3.3% on the previous year (6,076) and the first annual decline since 2021. However, despite the short term dip, UK patent filings have increased by 13.5% since 2016, indicating a longer-term upward trend.

Across all countries, the EPO received a record 201,974 patent applications in 2025, a 1.4% increase on 2024 and the first time filings exceeded 200,000. The USA remained the largest source of applications (47,008), followed by Germany (24,476). China (22,031) entered the top three for the first time, overtaking Japan (21,304). The UK ranked ninth overall, accounting for 2.9% of total filings.

Jim Ribeiro (pictured above), partner and patent attorney at European intellectual property firm Withers & Rogers said: “The EPO has confirmed that it received fewer European patent applications from UK based innovators in 2025, but in context we can see that the underlying trend is for steady growth. In particular, the UK’s strengths in computer technology, consumer goods and medical technologies have been highlighted in the Technology Dashboard; a strong indication that innovation is happening.”

Quatum technologies
Computer technology continues to be a standout sector. UK innovators filed 579 European patent applications in 2025, maintaining strong growth seen in 2023–24. In AI related sub fields, filings increased by 29% – the highest growth rate among leading European countries and second globally only to China. In the emerging field of quantum technologies, UK filings more than doubled year-on-year.

The UK also demonstrated strength in consumer goods, ranking second with 478 applications, though down on 2024 following a spike in vaping related filings. Medical technology filings grew by 10% to 474 applications.

Ribeiro added: “Investment in innovation activity is strong, but we must continue to build on this position of strength. The launch of the UK Government’s Modern Industrial Strategy, along with its eight Sector Plans last year, has created some momentum, which is evident in patent filing activity.”

This momentum is reflected in recent government action, including up to £2 billion in funding to accelerate the development and commercialisation of quantum technologies. Among UK applicants, Unilever led with 423 filings, followed by British American Tobacco (396) and BAE Systems (228). Oxford University and the University of Cambridge were also among the UK’s top 20 applicants, ranking 7th and 11th respectively among European universities.

Other leading UK-based applicants included Rolls-Royce (192), AstraZeneca (169), British Telecommunications (161), Linde (158), Imperial Brands (140), Vodafone Group (109) and Shell (108). AstraZeneca ranked fourth at the EPO in pharmaceuticals and seventh in biotechnology, increasing filings in both fields despite the overall decline in these sectors at the EPO.