China is known for breaking world records in all kinds of areas, and this time it has done it again—but for a very different reason. The latest WIPO Patent Reports 2024 reveal that China now accounts for nearly half of all patent filings worldwide. That’s a massive milestone, especially in the field of intellectual property rights (IPR), WIPO Patent Report where China has topped global patent filings for another year in a row. Keep reading to find out why this matters, what it means for global innovation, and to catch up on the latest IP news and updates.
What Does the WIPO Patent Report 2024 Reveal About China’s Share in Global Patent Applications?
Before we get into anything else, it’s important to take a quick look at what the WIPO Patent Report 2024 actually shows. According to the report, China accounts for nearly half of global patent filings in 2024. The country submitted around 1.8 million patent applications out of the global total of 3.7 million—almost half! That’s a huge jump compared to ten years ago, when China made up only about a third of global filings.
This big rise is mainly because of strong local innovation, with about 93% of China’s patents coming from its own residents and companies. China also led the world in patents granted, getting over 124,000 more granted patents than the previous year, far more than any other country. And it doesn’t stop at patents. China topped global charts in trademarks with over 7.3 million applications and led industrial design filings with more than 906,000 submissions. All of this growth is backed by massive investment in research and development, which hit over 3.6 trillion yuan in 2024. Overall, the report paints China as the world’s most active and fastest-growing IP powerhouse, firmly placing it at the center of global innovation.
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What Types of Patents Is China Filing According to WIPO’s 2024 Report?
Now let’s talk about China’s assortment in patent filing—not just how many patents it filed, but what types of patents are driving its massive numbers. We already know China filed around 1.8 million patent applications in 2024, nearly half of the global total of 3.7 million. But what really stands out is the breakdown. The growth is powered mainly by domestic innovators, with about 93% of all filings coming from Chinese residents and companies. China also dominated specific IP categories—most notably utility models, where it accounted for a staggering 97.8% of global applications in 2024. Along with this, China held major shares in industrial designs, further showcasing how broad its innovation activity is. And it doesn’t stop there: China also led the world in trademark filings, submitting around 7.3 million trademark applications at home and abroad—almost nine times more than the United States.
Looking at the global patent race 2024, according to the WIPO patents report, the top countries for filings in 2024 were:
- China – 1.8 million
- United States – 501,831
- Japan – 419,132
- South Korea – 295,722
- Germany – 133,485
Now, WIPO Patent Report when it comes to India, the country may not be in the top five yet, but the progress is impressive. India has shown strong and consistent growth, securing a place in the global top 10 for patent filings. In 2023, India recorded a +15.7% growth in resident-filed patent applications and filed 64,480 patents, ranking sixth globally. This steady rise shows that India’s innovation ecosystem is expanding fast—even as China maintains a massive lead in overall volume.
What Can Other Countries Learn from China’s Rapid Growth in Patent Filings?
- Investing consistently in research and development creates long-term innovation strength
- Supporting local companies, startups, and universities helps build a strong domestic innovation base
- Making the patent filing process easier and faster encourages more innovators to participate
- Promoting a mix of IP types, such as patents, utility models, trademarks, and designs, strengthens overall IP activity
- Creating government policies and incentives motivates businesses to protect and develop new ideas
- Building a culture that values innovation leads to higher creativity and technological progress
- Connecting innovation efforts to real economic growth ensures patents are not just filed but actually used
- Encouraging residents to file more patents increases national self-reliance and global competitiveness
Conclusion
China’s record-breaking patent activity in 2024 shows just how rapidly the global innovation landscape is shifting. With massive investments, strong domestic participation, and leadership across multiple IP categories, China has positioned itself at the center of worldwide technological growth. While other nations are steadily improving—India included—the gap highlights how important consistent innovation policies and IP awareness truly are. As countries continue to learn and adapt, the future of global innovation will only become more competitive and dynamic.
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