28/03/23 (Agence Europe) – Patent applications submitted to the European Patent Office (EPO) increased by 2.5% in 2022, compared to the previous year (see EUROPE 12927/33). The EPO received 193 460 such applications last year, according to its annual report, published on 28 March. In contrast, the number of patents granted by the EPO continued to fall (-24.9% compared to 2021). Inventions in the fields of electrical machines, appliances, energy, semiconductors and audiovisual technologies have witnessed a particularly strong increase. In terms of geographical representation, Germany, France and the Netherlands submitted the most applications, although in the case of Germany they decreased. See the EPO’s annual report: https://aeur.eu/f/63f (LM)