The European Medical Technology in Figures

Innovation Last update 18.07.2024

Key Facts

8%

average global R&D investment rate

18-24 months

product lifecycle

2nd

field with the most European patent applications in 2023

Medical technology is characterised by a constant flow of innovations, which are the results of a high level of research and development within the industry, and of close co-operation with users. The average global R&D investment rate (R&D spend as a percentage of sales) is estimated to be around 8% in the medical technology sector1. Many products have a lifecycle of only 18-24 months before an improved product becomes available.

In 2023, more than 15,900 patent applications were filed with the European Patent Office (EPO) in the field of medical technology, representing a 1.3% growth in patent applications compared to the previous year2. The medical technology field accounts for 8.1% of the total number of applications, the 2nd highest among all industrial sectors in Europe. 40% of these patent applications were filed from EPO countries (including EU27, UK, Norway and Switzerland), 38% from the US and the remaining 22% originated from other countries.

In comparison, around 9,300 applications were filed in the pharmaceutical field and around 8,400 in the field of biotechnology. While over the last two decades the number of EPO filings in the field of medical technology has almost tripled, pharma and biotech patent applications remained relatively stagnant. Furthermore, the ratio of granted patents to patent applications stands at 47% in 2023. In contrast, the same ratio is circa 30% and 21% in pharmaceutical and biotechnology field respectively(Evolution of European patents by technical field Graph).

Country of origin of medical technology patent applications - 2023 2

Top 10 technical fields in patent application - 2022 2

Evolution of European patents by technical field - 2023 2

Sources

  1. Evaluate MedTech, 2018, World Preview 2018, Outlook to 2024
  2. European Patent Office (EPO)