Key Takeaways

  • Patents vary dramatically by industry, with tech, pharmaceutical, automotive, and manufacturing sectors filing the most globally.
  • Industries like renewable energy, biotechnology, and AI are rapidly increasing patent activity as innovation accelerates.
  • Patents not only protect inventions but also signal competitiveness, investment potential, and market leadership.
  • The U.S. remains a global patent leader, but East Asia—especially China, Japan, and South Korea—has seen exponential growth in filings.
  • Data analytics and AI are transforming how patent trends are identified across industries, enabling smarter R&D decisions.

Patents for Business Research: Patents by Industry

Intellectual property and patents by industry remain essential for our economy and in driving innovation and growth. In recent years, intellectual property has become one of the fastest growing sectors in the economy.

A recent study by the United States Patent and Trademark Office in regard to patents by industry showed that in 2014, intellectual property-focused sectors in the United States:

  • Directly employed over 23.7 million
  • Had over 81 of 313 industries as IP-intense
  • Contributed over $6.6 trillion in U.S. GDP
  • Supported an additional 17.6 million jobs

As time moves on, intellectual property is expected to continue to grow and take an increasingly important place in our economy. Not only do intellectual property-related industries support our domestic economy, but their products account for over half of our exports as well.

Intellectual property varies significantly by industry. Each industry, and even individual companies, will use patents as part of their business strategy in a unique configuration.

Patent Activity by Leading Industries

Patent intensity varies greatly among industries. According to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), sectors such as computer technology, electrical machinery, medical technology, digital communication, and pharmaceuticals consistently lead in patent filings. These industries rely heavily on continuous innovation and intellectual property (IP) protection to maintain competitive advantage.

  • Technology and Software: Companies like IBM, Samsung, and Microsoft consistently top global patent lists. Software, AI, and data management patents dominate this category, reflecting the growing role of automation and digital infrastructure.
  • Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology: Patents protect drug formulations, genetic engineering methods, and diagnostic technologies. Given high R&D costs and long development timelines, patent portfolios are critical for pharmaceutical firms’ market survival.
  • Automotive and Manufacturing: Electric vehicles, self-driving technologies, and sustainability innovations drive growth in this sector. Companies such as Toyota and Bosch lead patent activity as they invest in cleaner and more efficient production methods.
  • Renewable Energy: As the global energy transition accelerates, wind, solar, and battery storage patents have surged. Governments worldwide are encouraging innovation in green technology through strong IP incentives.
  • Aerospace and Defense: These patents often involve propulsion systems, materials science, and safety mechanisms, emphasizing reliability and strategic importance.

By examining patents by industry, researchers and businesses can gauge where technological advancement and investment are most concentrated. This information also helps policymakers craft regulations that support innovation while maintaining fair competition.

Big Data is Key to Disrupting the U.S. Patent Industry

The trend in patents in a sector is a big indicator of its future course.

For example, look at big data. Big data is a technique whereby predictions are made by the complex correlation and analysis of a large amount of information, some of it seemingly unrelated. While big data has floated into the public discourse due to its privacy implications, nonetheless it is much more than just that.

Big data is now allowing many companies to gain predictive insights and analytics across many different industries. It is worth noting that patents relating to data science are now coming from all kinds of different industries. Big data has now become well-developed and prevalent in a variety of different industries, which also leaves little room now for those seeking to jump in. Nonetheless, a lot of opportunity remains to build upon current data science techniques and methods.

Data science is still raising big questions about privacy, as well as how the data can be exchanged, stored, protected, and best used. Patents in big data may come from processes that analyze video, transactions, and other seemingly innocent information to determine relationships or indicate risk.

There also may be innovation and patents in big data particularly in the biomedical industry, as both biomedical technology advances and consequently the data available, as well as the data needed.

There may still be concerns and limits for those seeking to patent big data, however. In 2014, the Supreme Court decided that certain kinds of data science methods may not be patentable. Because of how transformative data science has become, the standard for it being patentable has also been raised. Data science software needs to be truly unique and product-creating in order to be considered patentable.

In looking at the data science market, there are constantly new needs and demand for data science in nearly every industry. If you are looking for a data science patent, there remains ample opportunity. Nonetheless, you need to be able to comply with the Supreme Court's "Alice" standards for uniqueness and distinctiveness.

One new service that is trying to connect patent users is the U.S. Patent Utility. The company attempts to connect creators with their potential customers.

By utilizing the USPTO's massive patent database, patent owners can find a way to sell their patent to users. Normally, inventors and users find each other only by lawsuits.

Where there are no lawsuits, it can still be difficult for patent owners to license their patents to potential users. Because of this systematic information mismatch, over 95 percent of patents never become licensed or reach the public, thus, leaving both the inventor without revenue from the patent and depriving customers of the invention.

Patent databases such as the utility service attempt to bridge this gap. By connecting patent creators with potential users, immense innovation and growth across many different industries will likely be pushed.

Some especially vital patents are key parts of certain growth industries. These patents usually face extensive lawsuits, as whoever controls the patent controls an immense income stream from its licensing and use.

When patents are not brought to market, the entire economy faces a potential of lost innovation and growth.

Emerging Sectors Driving New Patent Growth

Beyond traditional technology and pharmaceutical fields, several emerging industries are rapidly expanding their patent portfolios:

  1. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning: AI-related patents span everything from natural language processing and predictive analytics to robotics and autonomous vehicles. AI is also being used to improve patent searches and analyze global IP trends.
  2. Healthcare Technology (HealthTech): Wearable devices, telemedicine tools, and digital health records are fueling a new wave of patents that merge data science with medical innovation.
  3. Biotechnology: Genetic sequencing, CRISPR technologies, and synthetic biology patents are transforming medicine, agriculture, and environmental engineering.
  4. Clean and Green Technology: Patents in electric mobility, hydrogen fuel cells, and sustainable materials are rising as industries pursue carbon neutrality.
  5. Blockchain and Cybersecurity: Patents in these sectors secure cryptographic systems and digital identity frameworks, increasingly vital in financial and data-driven industries.

Tracking patent trends by industry helps identify not only which sectors are growing fastest but also where intellectual property risks and opportunities lie. Startups often use this insight to position themselves in high-potential niches, while established companies rely on it to monitor competitors’ R&D pipelines.

Global Trends in Industry Patents

Globally, the United States, China, Japan, and South Korea account for the majority of patent filings across industries. China’s rapid innovation in telecommunications, AI, and green energy has made it a top filer at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). The U.S., meanwhile, continues to dominate in pharmaceuticals, computing, and aerospace.

Europe remains strong in industrial design, renewable energy, and automotive engineering, with Germany and the Nordic countries leading sustainable tech patents. Understanding these geographic and industry overlaps is crucial for multinational companies managing large IP portfolios.

Patent analytics platforms—powered by big data—now allow companies to track trends, map competitors’ portfolios, and uncover collaboration or licensing opportunities across borders.

Why Industry-Specific Patent Strategies Matter

Each industry must tailor its patent strategy to its innovation cycle and market pressures. For example:

  • Software companies must ensure compliance with the USPTO’s “Alice” test to establish patent eligibility for algorithms.
  • Pharmaceutical firms often depend on patent term extensions and exclusivity rights to recover R&D costs.
  • Manufacturers and clean-energy innovators focus on international protection to secure supply chains and export markets.

A strong, industry-specific patent approach not only guards proprietary innovations but also attracts investors, licensing partners, and public funding. Businesses should periodically audit their patent portfolios to align them with evolving technologies and global IP law updates.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Which industries file the most patents? Technology, pharmaceuticals, electrical machinery, and automotive industries consistently top the list of sectors with the highest number of patents.

2. Why are patents important for certain industries? Patents protect unique innovations, provide market exclusivity, and enhance investor confidence—especially in R&D-intensive sectors like biotech and software.

3. What industries are emerging in patent activity? AI, renewable energy, biotechnology, and cybersecurity are experiencing rapid growth in patent filings worldwide.

4. How can businesses track patents by industry? Companies can use databases like USPTO, WIPO, and the European Patent Office (EPO) or third-party analytics tools to monitor trends and competitors.

5. How do global patent trends affect U.S. industries? Global competition and collaboration shape innovation strategies. U.S. industries adapt through cross-licensing, joint ventures, and stronger international filings.

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