WIPO Releases Annual PCT Statistics for 2006

WIPO recently reported that PCT filings have seen continuous growth with a record 145,300 applications filed in 2006, representing a 6.4% growth over the previous year. The most remarkable growth rates came from countries in north east Asia for the third year running and represented over a quarter (25.3%) of all international applications under the PCT.

The Republic of Korea, which experienced 26.6% growth in 2006, overtook the UK and France to become the 4th biggest country of origin of PCT filings, and applicants from China, whose use grew by a whopping 56.8%, dislodged Switzerland and Sweden to take the position of 8th largest country of origin:

• United States -- 49,555 (+6.1%)
• Japan -- 26,906 (+8.3%)
• Germany -- 16,929 (+5.8%)
• Republic of Korea -- 5,935 (+26.6%)
• France -- 5,902 (+2.8%)
• United Kingdom -- 5,045 (-0.8%)
• Netherlands -- 4,393 (-2.7%)
• China -- 3,910 (+56.8%)
• Switzerland -- 3,403 (+3.8%)
• Sweden -- 3,123 (+8.7%)

The top 10 PCT applicants for 2006 are:

• KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V. (NL) -- 2,495
• MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD. (JP) -- 2,344
• SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT (DE) -- 1,480
• NOKIA CORPORATION (FI) -- 1,036
• ROBERT BOSCH GMBH (DE) -- 962
• 3M INNOVATIVE PROPERTIES COMPANY (US) -- 727
• BASF AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT (DE) -- 714
• TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA (JP) -- 704
• INTEL CORPORATION (US) -- 690
• MOTOROLA, INC. (US) -- 637

Among the 20 top filing companies, seven were from the USA, four from Japan and three from Germany. Several new companies joined the top 20 list, including Huawei (China), up 24 places to 13th, Fujitsu (Japan), up 9 places to 15th, LG Electronics (Republic of Korea) up 12 to 16th, and Hewlett-Packard (USA) up 5 to 18th.

The greatest number of PCT applications published in 2006 were in telecommunications (10.5%), pharmaceuticals (10.4%), and information technology (10.4%). The fastest growing technology areas are semiconductors (28% increase), information technology (22%) and pharmaceuticals (21%).

To view the complete report, click here.