German Media: China Acquired Over 11,000 German Patents Within 20 Years

According to an analysis report by the German Institute for Economic Research (IW), China has acquired more than 11,000 German patents between 2000 and 2022. Particularly strong momentum in acquiring German patents has been observed in the mechanical engineering sector.

The study, commissioned by the Bertelsmann Foundation and conducted by the IW, reveals that at the turn of the millennium, almost no German patents were owned by Chinese entities. However, over the past two decades, China has acquired over 11,300 German patents.

According to the research, German inventors submitted over 650,000 cross-border patent applications between 2000 and 2022. Of these, 189,000 (accounting for 29%) are now owned by foreign entities. Nearly one-third are owned by the United States, while approximately 11% belong to Switzerland.

In the field of mechanical engineering, the number of German patent applications rose from 3,300 in 2000 to 4,300 in 2022. Yet it is precisely in this sector where the loss of German patents is most pronounced, and Chinese acquisition activity is strongest. A prominent example cited in the report is Kuka, a robotics manufacturer headquartered in Augsburg, which was acquired by China’s Midea Group in 2016.

"German companies also hold patents overseas. This falls within the normal scope of international competition," said Oliver Koppel, expert at the German Institute for Economic Research.

Decline in Germany's Innovation Vitality

The study also indicates a declining trend in domestic innovation vitality in Germany. As a result, Germany’s share in the global cross-border patent application market has dropped from 22% in 2000 to 15% in 2022. The report attributes this decline primarily to insufficient investment in research and development (R&D). Data from the IW shows that in 2000, Germany ranked third globally in R&D investment, with spending levels twice those of China; by 2021, Germany had fallen to sixth place, while China’s R&D expenditure had increased twentyfold during the same period.

The latest data used in this study comes from 2022. Given that patent application information is typically made public only after a statutory confidentiality period of 18 months, 2022 is currently the most recent year for which complete data is available.

Source: DW, based on Reuters

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1866888050861322/

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