Austria's patent filings rise in 2025 but lag behind EU growth trends

Austria's patent filings reached 2,253 in 2025, marking a 5% rise from the previous year. The country remains a strong performer in innovation, ranking 8th globally for filings per capita. However, growth still lags behind both European and worldwide averages.

Austria submitted 1,424 patent applications to the European Patent Office (EPO) in 2025, up roughly 26% from 1,128 in earlier years. This placed the country 16th overall and 10th within the EU. Yet its 11.3% growth since 2016 fell short of the EPO average (13.9%) and the global rate (27%).

Traditional sectors like machinery, electrical devices, and energy drove much of the increase. Specialised machinery saw particularly strong gains. Borealis led with 173 filings, followed by Voestalpine with 85. Despite these figures, Austria's innovation landscape faces challenges. Only 17% of inventors are women, well below the EU average of 26% and far behind Spain's 42%. Experts suggest that improving conditions for women in the private sector could unlock further potential. Additionally, a lack of venture capital continues to limit startup growth and sustainability.

Austria's patent performance remains above EU and global averages, with 245 filings per million inhabitants. However, slower growth and gender disparities highlight areas for improvement. Addressing these could help the country strengthen its position in innovation.