The European Patent Office (EPO) received more than 273 110 patent filings in 2014, an increase of around 3% over 2013, and a new all-time high.

"These figures are only a first estimate, but they confirm Europe's continued strength as a hub of innovation," said EPO President Benoît Battistelli (photo). "Demand for patents at the EPO is up for the fifth year in a row, reaching a new peak," he said.

Preliminary data show that last year filings originating from Europe remained stable (+0.3%). There was strong growth from the US (+6.7%), which reinforced its leading position in the country ranking, and very strong growth from China (+16.8%). Korea saw moderate growth (+1.4%), while patent filings from Japan saw a drop (-3.8%).