WIPO Global Innovation (Patents) Index 2025

In today’s globalized world, leading nations are competing fiercely in technology, research, and innovation. According to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the top ten countries in this race are China, the United States, Japan, South Korea, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Switzerland, India, and the Netherlands.



WIPO’s latest Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) Early Review 2025, published in March, confirms that China continues to hold its leading position in international patent filings, followed closely by the United States. In 2024, a total of 273,900 international patent applications were filed under the PCT system.



Of these, China accounted for 70,160 applications, reflecting a modest 0.9% growth compared to the previous year. The United States ranked second with 54,087 filings, though its numbers dropped by 2.8% from 2023.



Japan maintained third place with 48,397 applications, followed by South Korea with 23,851 and Germany with 16,721. France filed 8,125 applications, while the United Kingdom recorded 5,861, Switzerland 5,324, India 4,552, and the Netherlands 4,310. Notably, India demonstrated remarkable progress with a 22.2% growth rate in 2024, making it the fastest-growing nation in innovation filings.



At the corporate level, China’s Huawei emerged as the world’s leading patent filer, submitting 6,600 applications in 2024. South Korea’s Samsung ranked second with 4,640 applications. These figures highlight the growing dominance of Asian technology firms in shaping global innovation.



Patent filing gives inventors and companies legal protection for their innovations in multiple countries through the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) administered by WIPO.



However, one noticeable absence in this global ranking is the Muslim world. No Muslim-majority nation or company has made it into the top ten in international patent filings. This points to a broader challenge: these nations remain heavily reliant on foreign technology and expertise, while their domestic investments in research and innovation remain limited.



The WIPO 2025 review clearly reflects the shifting dynamics of global innovation. While China and the United States lead, India’s rapid rise signals new changes ahead. For the Muslim world, the report underscores the urgent need for greater investment in science, technology, and research to secure a stronger position in the global innovation index in the future.



Data and references: World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) – Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) Yearly Review 2025, personal thought, and open-source reports



Author Bio:
Sherazur Rahman
Teacher & Writer
Singra, Natore, Bangladesh
sherazbd@gmail.com



Author’s Note:
This article was written by Sherazur Rahman. AI tools were used only to refine language and ensure factual accuracy. All opinions and analyses are solely those of the author.