Patent applications: Asia far ahead in battery technology

MUNICH (dpa-AFX) - Companies from South Korea, China, and Japan are expanding their lead in battery technology, a key area for the future of the automotive industry. The number of published patent applications from these three Asian countries increased significantly more in 2024 than those from German companies, research institutions, and private inventors. This is according to figures published by the German Patent and Trademark Office (DPMA) in its new annual report.

Majority of battery innovations from Asia

The analysis evaluated applications published by the German and neighboring European Patent Offices. Duplicate applications were excluded. According to the data, applications in battery technology increased by a total of 16.6 percent to a total of 7,242 last year. This growth was largely due to brisk development activity in Asia: South Korea led the way with an increase of 10.3 percent and 1,817 applications.

LG, CATL and Samsung in the lead

China followed in second place with an increase of 22.6 percent and 1,591 patent applications in battery technology. Japan, in third place, overtook Germany with 1,136 applications, an increase of 7.8 percent. German battery technology applications increased by only 1.9 percent to 1,112. The three largest individual applicants were the Korean company LG, the Chinese battery manufacturer CATL, and Samsung, also based in South Korea.

German developers leading in solar technology

From a German perspective, the patent balance in solar technology is more encouraging: Patent applications increased by 15.1 percent in 2024. Although the vast majority of solar modules sold in Germany are manufactured in China, Germany continues to be involved in the further development of the technology: According to the German Patent and Trademark Office (DPMA), domestic applications increased by 57.3 percent to 184, placing it first ahead of China. This also includes new support structures for the installation of solar modules. The DPMA notes that private inventors contributed almost 30 percent of German applications. In other technology fields, inventors tinkering in their own workshops hardly play a role anymore.

The analyses of the German Patent Office reflect technical developments with a certain delay, as patent applications are only published after a period of 18 months./cho/DP/zb