Demystifying Explosion in Patenting Growth Rate

The 2007 WIPO Patent released in August 2007 highlights the changing geography of innovation with highest patenting growth rates in North East Asia, with an emphasis on sharp rise in patent filings in China. From 2004 to 2005, there was steady growth in patent filings by applicants in their country of residence (+6.6%), but patent filings by non-residents have grown at a faster rate (+7.6%). During the same period, the most notable increases can be seen at patent offices of emerging States. The patent office of China has the highest growth rate for resident (+42.1%) and non-resident (+23.6%) filings.

Dr. Xuan Li, Lead Economist and Acting Coordinator of Innovations and Access to Knowledge Programme (IAKP), South Centre however comments that it may be too early to draw a definite conclusion on the changing geography of innovation since the link between sharp rise in patent filings and innovations capacity may not be so straightforward. Listen to her commentary on "Demystifying Explosion in Patenting Growth Rate."

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