A recent study highlights the significant role of public research organizations (PROs) in driving innovation across Europe. The report, which examines 39 member states, reveals that Spanish PROs submitted nearly 3,000 patent applications, totaling 2,994, positioning Spain as the fifth most active country in Europe alongside France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium.
Conducted by the European Patent Office (EPO) in collaboration with Fraunhofer ISI, the study indicates that Spain experienced the largest growth in patents from PROs among major European nations, quadrupling its European patent applications from 57 in 2001 to 265 in 2020, marking a remarkable increase of 365%. The research also uncovers significant variations in patent trends across Europe. Following Spain, Belgium recorded the second highest growth at 172%, with France at 137%, the Netherlands at 94%, and Germany at 45%.
“Public research is one of Europe”s greatest strengths. This study underscores the vital role of our public research organizations and hospitals, whose inventions enhance European competitiveness,” stated António Campinos, President of the EPO. “However, to fully harness their potential, we must enhance collaboration and expedite the transfer of research into practical technologies.”
Spain is at the forefront of innovation growth among European PROs, demonstrating a robust spirit of collaboration. Over half (54.8%) of the academic patents directly filed by PROs involve multiple applicants, emphasizing the importance of international partnerships. Notably, more than 17% of these patents reflect solely inter-European collaborations, while an additional 7.8% involve international partners outside Europe.
The country also boasts a dynamic environment for research-based entrepreneurship, with 97 startups linked to European research institutions through their patent applications to the EPO, including universities, agencies, and public research hospitals. Spanish research institutions are also associated with 37 startups in other European nations, highlighting the international reach of the Spanish research ecosystem.
When examining patent applications from 2001 to 2020, nearly 63,000 European patent applications originated from public research centers in Europe. France (25,352) and Germany (18,276) lead in patent applications over the last twenty years, followed by the Netherlands (3,803), Belgium (3,084), Spain (2,994), and Italy (1,722). The strategic importance of PROs varies significantly among countries, with France (13.9%), Spain (11.9%), and Belgium (9.5%) showing the highest national shares of European patents originating from public research centers, while Germany and the Netherlands maintain lower proportions despite their substantial absolute volumes.
The most prominent technological fields among European PROs include biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, followed by measurement technologies, semiconductors, information technology, and other strategic areas of applied research.
Among the ten leading European PROs, only ten institutions, primarily from France and Germany, accounted for 63% of all European patent applications from PROs. These include France”s National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS), the Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) of France, the German Fraunhofer Society, France”s National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM), and the Netherlands” Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO). Spain”s Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) ranks ninth, generating 1,069 European patent applications between 2001 and 2020, placing it among the continent”s most active PROs in terms of patent filings.
Other Spanish institutions have also made significant contributions, such as the Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA) with 266 applications and the Biomedical Research Networking Center (CIBER) with 182 applications, ranking second and third nationally, respectively.
European research hospitals have contributed over 17,400 European patent applications during this period, with France, Germany, and the United Kingdom leading. Spain ranks seventh, with its research hospitals contributing 726 European patent applications from 2001 to 2020.
Spain”s commitment to innovation is further evidenced by its strong endorsement of the Unitary Patent system. Spanish PROs and research hospitals have achieved a 75% adoption rate for the Unitary Patent, significantly surpassing the European average of nearly 41%. These figures, based on patents granted by the EPO from January to June 2025, position Spain as a leader in adopting new frameworks for patent protection and technology transfer.
