24/02/2025
Even though 2025 has only just begun, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is already hitting the headlines, with many US tech firms’ share prices wobbling in response to the recent release of the DeepSeek large language model. Indeed AI is no longer an emerging technology, but is instead starting to impact our day to day lives an ever increasing amount.
As done in previous years, in this insight we will analyse the patent trends and statistics at the European Patent Office (EPO) for 2024, to see what can be learnt regarding the state of AI innovation.
The EPO is a positive forum for AI innovators
In our previous review, we saw a steep increase in the number of AI related applications filed at the EPO, rising from around 500 in 2015 to nearly 5000 applications in 2020 alone. We have now updated our search to include the most recent data, and the updated results are shown via the dashed lines in the graph below.
Figure 1: Number of European patent applications filed/granted per year in the four AI CPC classification codes listed below.
As with our previous reviews, the graph above shows all European patent applications and granted patents in the following Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC) classifications groups which the majority of AI related applications are classified as:
G06N 3/xx – Computer systems based on biological models
G06N 5/xx – Knowledge-based models
G06N 7/xx – Specific mathematical models
G06N 20/xx – Machine Learning
The filing statistics are complete up to the end of 2022, due to the 18 month lag between filing and publication of a patent application meaning the 2023 and 2024 filing data is not yet public. The number of granted applications is complete up to the end of 2024.
Looking at the new data, the rapid increase in the number of filings per year appears to have slowed, with the total number of European AI applications being filed peaking at nearly 6000 applications in 2021. Despite some decline in the 2022 filing numbers, the overall number of patent applications being sought remains high, demonstrating the now well-established position of AI in the patent landscape.
What is very promising for AI innovators, and pleasing to see in the data, is that the number of AI applications being granted in Europe has steadily increased through 2023 and 2024. Given that the average time for a patent to be granted at the EPO is estimated at 3 to 5 years, it is unsurprising that grant figures remain lower than filings. However, the rate of increase in patents being granted appears to be comparable to the rate of increase in patent application filings a few years prior. Therefore the data indicates the EPO’s willingness to grant patents for AI related inventions, even with the extra hurdles for computer-implemented inventions and mathematical methods in Europe, and the additional challenges relating to sufficiency of disclosure for AI inventions.
Looking at the outcome for all AI related European applications since the turn of the century, shown in Figure 2 below, the increasing likelihood of an AI related application reaching grant can be seen in the green curve below. The percentage of AI applications successfully reaching grant has been gradually increasing, maxing out at around 40% in 2017/2018, after which the number of applications yet to be decided starts to impair the data.
Figure 2: Percentage of applications filed between 2000 and 2022 which have been granted, refused or are pending in the four listed AI CPC classification codes.
The absolute increase in the number of AI patents being granted in Europe, along with the increase in the likelihood of grant for any given application, reinforces the growing recognition of AI innovations in the patent system.
Top AI Innovators
Looking at 2024 in particular, Figure 3 below shows the top ten companies based on the number of AI applications published by the EPO last year.
Figure 3: Top applicants by number of applications published in 2024 in the four listed AI CPC classification codes.
Samsung, Google, Huawei, and Microsoft continue to dominate the top four positions, each with over 200 AI related applications published in 2024. Samsung reclaimed the top spot for 2024, the third time it has done so since 2020.
Perhaps the biggest change in the applicant data is the emergence of global telecommunication companies as major filers for AI inventions. Each of Qualcomm, Ericsson, and Nokia are in the top ten list for AI filers in 2024, with Qualcomm and Ericsson also appearing in the 2023 top ten list.
Focusing in on each of these companies, Figure 4 shows the change in the number of published AI applications for each company over the past five years. Each company shows an increase or at least maintenance in the number of AI inventions for which they are filing European patent applications.
Figure 4: Number of applications published by each company in the last five years in the four listed AI CPC classification codes.
As seen in the graph, the increase in published applications for the telecoms companies is much more pronounced, with a clear year-on-year increase, signalling a strong strategic focus on securing positions in the AI market through patent filings.
Summary
In summary, the outlook for AI innovators is perhaps even more positive than during our previous review of the data. The number of AI applications remains sizable, and the number of patents being granted appears very respectable compared to the number of applications filed.
We anticipate the number of AI patent applications will only continue to increase as AI becomes increasingly relevant to our daily lives, and it is pleasing to see the EPO rewarding companies for this innovation with European patents.
At Reddie and Grose we have a wealth of experience obtaining legal protection for inventions relating to Artificial Intelligence, especially UK and European patents. If you need help protecting your innovations in this field then please do get in touch.
This article is for general information only. Its content is not a statement of the law on any subject and does not constitute advice. Please contact Reddie & Grose LLP for advice before taking any action in reliance on it.
