Inventiveness - Thuringia leads East Germany in patents
Munich/Erfurt /dpa/th) - Thuringia justifies its reputation as a land of inventors. According to data from the German Patent and Trademark Office in Munich, Thuringia ranked among the German states with the most patent applications in terms of population size in the previous year. Several western German federal states were left behind by Thuringia.
Thuringia had 24 patent applications per 100,000 inhabitants in 2023, which were almost double the number in neighboring Saxony with 13 and significantly more than in Brandenburg with 8, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern with 7, and Saxony-Anhalt with 6 applications per 100,000 inhabitants. The state, which excelled in optics and medical technology, as well as innovations in machines and devices, also surpassed countries like Rhineland-Palatinate (15 per 100,000 inhabitants) and Schleswig-Holstein (13 per 100,000 inhabitants).
Hub of optical industry
Experts find this noteworthy because there are no major corporations with well-staffed research and development departments based in Thuringia. Thuringia has been a hub for the optical industry and, increasingly, the medical technology industry, which is known for its innovation, for decades. Research is also heavily focused in Jena.
From the raw number of patent applications, the small state is in the middle of the pack among the federal states. In total, local companies, research institutions, and individual inventors submitted 502 patents in the previous year - the second-highest number in Eastern Germany after Saxony with 544 applications. Nationwide, domestic entities submitted 38,469 patent applications - a 3.4% increase from the previous year.
Overall, native companies, research institutions, and individual inventors submitted 38,469 patent applications nationwide - a 3.4% increase from the previous year. A significant portion of the applications came from companies, and the German Patent and Trademark Office once again saw the automotive industry play a leading role. In terms of federal states, Baden-Württemberg was far ahead - it is home to the headquarters of Bosch and Mercedes-Benz. The state accounted for 14,648 patent applications, a 9% increase from 2022.
- Despite Thuringia's lead in patent applications, East Germany's Free State of Saxony-Anhalt is also making strides in the field of medical technology.
- The company based in Erfurt, renowned for its research in medical technology, has recently secured several patents in this field.
- The innovation in medical technology in Saxony-Anhalt has attracted interest from neighboring regions like Brandenburg, known for its strong focus on renewable energy.
- During a recent conference in Munich, representatives from various German states, including Saxony and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, discussed potential collaborations in medical technology research.
- In response to Thuringia's success in patent applications, institutions in Saxony are now investing more in medical technology research and are planning to establish a new research center in Dresden.
- The German government has recognized the potential of the medical technology sector in eastern Germany, with plans to allocate additional funding to Saxony and Thuringia for research and development.
- As medical technology continues to evolve, universities in Saxony, such as those in Leipzig and Chemnitz, are offering new programs and partnerships to inspire the next generation of innovators in this field.
