Plus in tech classes that include face masks and protective clothing
The corona pandemic is inhibiting the inventive spirit in German companies. The German Patent and Trademark Office reported on Friday a significant decrease in patent applications of almost eight percent in the past year. A total of 62,105 inventions were registered for patent, 5,327 fewer than in 2019. According to the German authorities, there were similar declines in other patent offices in large industrialized countries such as Japan and the USA.
The decline in auto technology and other branches of industry such as mechanical engineering is noticeable. In the “Transport” area – which is traditionally at the top of the patent statistics – registrations fell by 16.6 percent to 10,758. However, there was an increase in connection with electric vehicles, such as batteries and fuel cells. The three companies with the most registrations still belong to the automotive industry: The suppliers Bosch and Schaeffler came in first and second, followed by BMW.
In other areas, the pandemic clearly promoted the willingness to innovate. In medical technology there was reportedly 2,883 registrations, an increase of over ten percent. In the technology classes, which include face masks and protective clothing, registrations increased fivefold. “The pandemic has led to extensive economic damage, but has strongly stimulated economic activity in some special sectors,” said Cornelia Rudloff-Schäffer, head of the authorities.
