16/03/2021 (Agence Europe) – According to a report by the European Patent Office (EPO) published on Tuesday 16 March, the European health sector has been particularly dynamic with regard to innovation. Of the main technical areas, pharmaceuticals (+10.2%) and biotechnology (+6.3%) recorded the highest increases in patent filings. Medical technology (+2.6%) accounted for the largest number of inventions in 2020, regaining the top spot for innovation ahead of digital communication (5G), which was the busiest area in 2019. Overall, the EPO is pleased to report a healthy level of activity that is similar to the previous year. The EPO received a total of 180,250 patent applications last year, which is slightly lower than the record level reached in 2019 (181,532). The report can be accessed at: http://bit.ly/38L4zs8 (PH)