The Biomedical Research Network Center (CIBER) has emerged as the third most prolific Spanish public research institution in terms of European patent applications, according to a recent study conducted by the Patent and Technology Observatory of the European Patent Office (EPO) in partnership with Fraunhofer ISI.
Between 2001 and 2020, CIBER submitted a total of 182 European patent applications, placing it behind the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), which had 1,069 applications, and the Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA), with 266 applications. CIBER emphasized its role as one of the most active patent applicants on the continent and noted that it is the only institution focused solely on health, while the other two have a multidisciplinary approach.
CIBER described itself as a model of cooperative research, integrating more than 100 partner institutions and 513 research groups that collaborate to enhance knowledge transfer and the practical application of scientific advancements.
On a broader scale, the study, which analyzed data from 39 member states, revealed that Spanish public research organizations (PRIs) contributed nearly 3,000 patent applications (specifically 2,994). This positions Spain as the fifth most active country in Europe for patent applications, alongside France, Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium.
Spain recorded the most significant increase in patents originating from public research institutions among major European nations, with applications quadrupling from 57 in 2001 to 265 in 2020, indicating a remarkable growth of 365 percent.
The primary technological fields highlighted among European PRIs include biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, followed by measurement technologies, semiconductors, information technology, and other critical areas of applied research.
