MUNICH/STUTTGART (dpa-AFX) - Baden-Württemberg remains the most innovative federal state in Germany. Companies and inventors from the southwest filed 15,161 patent applications with the German Patent and Trade Mark Office (DPMA) last year. Despite a slight decline of 2.2 percent, the state once again secured the top spot in a comparison of federal states. Bavaria followed in second place with 12,575 filings.
The automotive industry plays a central role in this achievement. Bosch once again leads the list of companies with the highest number of patent applications. The technology and supplier giant filed 4,109 patents. Mercedes-Benz followed with 2,726 applications. Sports and SUV manufacturer Porsche AG ranks sixth, while supplier ZF Friedrichshafen holds tenth place. Overall, the top group consists exclusively of car manufacturers and suppliers.
Bosch has led the list for years
Bosch CEO Stefan Hartung stated: "Innovations and cutting-edge technology are the pillars of our 140-year corporate history." This is consistently reflected in patent filings. In Germany, Bosch has held the top position for years, and in Europe, it is among the top applicants. According to the company, many patents originate from strategic future fields such as driver assistance, electromobility, artificial intelligence, and semiconductors.
Minister of Economic Affairs Nicole Hoffmeister-Kraut (CDU) viewed the top ranking as an important signal for the region and its development. She noted that it demonstrates once again that Baden-Württemberg continues to possess a strong innovation system, despite the sometimes massive upheavals in relevant industries.
Patent applications on the rise
German industry is responding to technological competition from China and other nations with increased research and development. Nationwide, the number of patent applications rose by 4.7 percent last year to 62,050. Of these, 42,349 were filed by domestic companies, while foreign firms submitted 19,701 applications. In terms of technology, mechanical engineering remains the most important sector with 24,338 patent applications, followed by electrical engineering with 19,436.
The annual report from the German Patent and Trade Mark Office serves as an indicator of the development activity within German industry. However, the figures do not provide a complete picture, as Siemens and several other German companies prefer to file their new developments with the European Patent Office, which is also based in Munich./cho/jwe/DP/stw
