Patent figures reveal what the market needs

What use is an invention that nobody wants? Exactly: none whatsoever. Fortunately, as an entrepreneur, you can cleverly use an unexpected source to discover where the real opportunities lie: patent figures.

Figures from the European Patent Office (EPO) don't tell you what inventors like to make. They mainly show where there are problems, where companies see opportunities, and where the market is moving. Behind every patent application is a need, not a hobby project.

Marco Coolen, photo © Bart van Overbeeke

Electrical machinery and energy are growing fast

The electrical machinery and energy category is growing by 8.9%. This is no surprise, of course, as the energy transition is in full swing. Governments are investing heavily in sustainability, and companies are responding with new technologies for energy storage, smart networks, and electric drives.

This is a clear signal for entrepreneurs: there are market opportunities here. Innovations in the energy world are not only desirable but necessary. The growth in patent applications confirms that companies are preparing for a greener and smarter energy system.

Digital foundation continues to grow

Computer technology also continues to grow strongly, with an increase of 3.3%. This field forms the backbone for everything we want to do smarter in the future with AI, data, and algorithms.

Whether you are in manufacturing, logistics, or healthcare, digital innovations are indispensable. New patents indicate that companies invest heavily in better data analysis, faster computing power, and more innovative software. This is where the infrastructure on which tomorrow's economy will be built is growing.

Digital communication is now commonplace, so it is not surprising that this category has declined by 6.3%. Innovation in this sector is now shifting to areas such as AI-driven communication, smart networks, and data compression.

Communication remains a basic need, but the major revolutions are occurring elsewhere. Entrepreneurs who focus on communication would do well to shift their innovative focus to new technologies that make communication smarter and more efficient.

Medical technology

You would expect medical technology to continue to boom in an aging Europe. However, we are seeing a slight decline of 3%.

This may indicate that demand is shifting. Perhaps there is less demand for new technical solutions and more demand for care concepts, services, and organizational models. An important hint for entrepreneurs active in health tech: look beyond the technology itself. The real innovation may lie in organizing care differently.

Patents as a mirror of the market

What can entrepreneurs learn from these figures? Quite simply, patents are not an end in themselves. They are a response to a market demand.

Suppose you know where most patent activity is taking place, or where it is declining. In that case, you can tailor your innovation and business strategy accordingly, not by building what you like, but by developing solutions that are in real demand.

The market speaks, and patents are one of the clearest translations of that demand. If you look closely at trends in patent applications, you can see where opportunities are emerging and tailor your innovation accordingly. And that is exactly where the companies of tomorrow are waiting.