The number of patent applications from China rocketed in 2005, boosting the country to 10th from 13th place in the number filed, the U.N. agency that oversees intellectual property said Friday.
More than 134,000 applications were filed worldwide in 2005, up almost 10 percent from the previous year. The United States remained in the top spot, said the World Intellectual Property Organization.
“The rate of growth from Japan, Republic of Korea and China continues to be exceptional, reflecting the rapidly expanding technological strength of those countries,” said Francis Gurry, deputy director general of WIPO.
The number of patent applications from China rose 44 percent from 2004 to an estimated 2,452, overtaking Australia, Canada and Italy, according to the organization.
Japan, whose number of patent filings rose 24 percent to 25,145, took second place in the rankings ahead of Germany, France and Britain. South Korea overtook the Netherlands in sixth place, with 4,747 applications, up 34 percent from 2004.
For a flat fee of 1,400 Swiss francs ($1,100) companies can file a request for patent protection in any or all of the 128 countries, including the United States, that have signed up to the system.
The World Intellectual Properaty Organization registers the applications, publishes them and carries out an examination to determine whether the product or process in the application appears to be new.
Dutch manufacturer Royal Philips Electronics NV led the way for international corporations with 2,492 applications, followed by Japan’s Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. with 2,021.
Siemens AG of Germany dropped from second place last year to third, with 1,402 applications, followed by Nokia Corp. with 898, and Robert Bosch GmbH with 843.
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