🏆 Global Patent Leaders
WIPO 2024 Statistics
🌏 Regional Dominance: Asia accounts for over 67% of global patent applications, with China alone representing 47.2% of worldwide filings. The region leads in AI, 5G, electric vehicles, and semiconductor technology patents.
🇨🇳
China
WIPO/CNIPA 20241.64M+
Patent Apps
47.2%
Global Share
+9.3%
Growth
- #1 globally in patent applications
- Strong in: AI, 5G, EVs, semiconductors
- CNIPA: China National IP Administration
- University patents growing rapidly
- Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen innovation hubs
🇯🇵
Japan
JPO/UNITT 2024419,132
Patent Apps
2,841
Uni Licenses
#3
Global Rank
- UNITT: University TTO Network
- Japanese Bayh-Dole (1999): TLO Law
- TLOs often private companies owned by unis
- MEXT surveys: Annual data collection
- Challenge: Lower royalty income vs US
🇰🇷
South Korea
KIPO/KIAT 2024287,954
Patent Apps
+2.6%
Growth
80%
Uni Ownership
- 7,309 apps per $100B GDP (highest globally)
- KIAT: Korea Institute for Advancement of Technology
- 80% university patent ownership rate
- ₩6.8T ($4.9B) for strategic tech R&D (2025)
- Strong in: Semiconductors, AI, biotech, quantum
🇹🇼
Taiwan
TIPO 2024~50,000
Patent Apps
ITRI
Research Inst
Semi
Specialty
- ITRI: Industrial Technology Research Institute
- World leader in semiconductor tech transfer
- TSMC originated from ITRI spin-off
- Hsinchu Science Park model
- Strong university-industry linkages
🇯🇵 Japan - UNITT Network
Japan's University Network for Innovation and Technology Transfer (UNITT) coordinates technology licensing offices across Japanese universities, operating under a modified version of the US Bayh-Dole framework.
| Metric | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| TLO Law enacted | 1998/1999 | Japanese Bayh-Dole equivalent |
| University licenses (2014) | 2,841 | MEXT survey data |
| TLO structure | Private companies | Often wholly owned by universities |
| Government data sources | ReaD&Researchmap, J-GLOBAL, KAKEN | Primary researcher databases |
| Key challenge | Low royalty income | vs US despite high patent volume |
📊 Data Sources: Unlike western countries where university websites are key data sources, Japan's critical research data resides in government databases (ReaD&Researchmap, J-GLOBAL, KAKEN) rather than individual institution sites.
🇮🇳
India
WIPO 202464,480
Patent Apps
+15.7%
Growth
#6
Global Rank
- 6th consecutive year of double-digit growth
- IIT system leading in research output
- Growing pharma and IT patent activity
- Startup India driving commercialization
- Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune innovation hubs
🇸🇬
Singapore
IPOS 2024A*STAR
Research Agency
NUS/NTU
Top Unis
High
Spin-off Rate
- A*STAR: Agency for Science, Technology & Research
- NUS and NTU among Asia's top tech transfer
- Strong government support for commercialization
- One-North innovation district
- Biomedical and fintech focus
🇹🇭
Thailand
DIP/NSTDANSTDA
S&T Agency
Thailand 4.0
Policy
EEC
Innovation Zone
- NSTDA: National Science & Technology Development Agency
- Thailand 4.0: Innovation-driven economy policy
- EEC: Eastern Economic Corridor
- University science parks growing
- Focus: Agritech, automotive, electronics
🇲🇾
Malaysia
MyIPO/MOSTIMOSTI
Ministry
MTDC
Tech Dev Corp
Growing
R&D Invest
- MOSTI: Ministry of Science, Technology & Innovation
- MTDC: Malaysian Technology Development Corporation
- University-industry collaboration programs
- Cyberjaya tech hub
- Focus: Electronics, palm oil tech, halal
🇻🇳
Vietnam
MOST 2024MOST
Ministry
Growing
Patent Apps
FDI
Tech Driver
- MOST: Ministry of Science & Technology
- Rapid growth in tech sector
- Samsung, Intel R&D centers
- Ho Chi Minh City tech hub
- Growing university research capacity
🇮🇩
Indonesia
BRIN 2024BRIN
Research Agency
4,500+
Universities
Emerging
TT Activity
- BRIN: National Research & Innovation Agency (2021)
- Consolidation of research institutes
- Largest university system in ASEAN
- Growing digital economy patents
- Jakarta tech startup ecosystem
🇦🇺
Australia
IP Australia 202530,478
Patent Apps
-3.3%
Change
91%
Non-Resident
- IP Australia Annual Report: Comprehensive data
- Top domestic: Aristocrat (73), Canva (44), CSIRO (37)
- Monash (22), UNSW (22) lead universities
- Biotech grew +31.7% domestically
- Focus: Mining tech, agritech, medtech
🇳🇿
New Zealand
IPONZ 2024~6,500
Patent Apps
Callaghan
Innovation Agency
CRIs
Research Model
- Callaghan Innovation: Government innovation agency
- CRIs: Crown Research Institutes
- Strong agritech and food tech focus
- University of Auckland leads in patents
- KiwiNet research commercialization network
🇦🇺 Australia IP Report 2025
| Metric | Value | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| Standard patent applications | 30,478 | -3.3% |
| Non-resident share | 91.5% | Stable |
| Top foreign origin | US (42.7%) | -6.2% |
| China origin | 8.5% | +5.2% |
| Biotech applications (domestic) | Growing | +31.7% |
| Trade mark applications | 85,945 | +2.8% |
🎓 University Leaders (2024): Monash University (22 patents) and UNSW (22, via NewSouth Innovations) lead domestic university patent filings, with CSIRO (37) as the top research organization.
📊 Asia-Pacific Patent Comparison
WIPO 2024| Country | Patent Apps | Global Rank | Growth | Apps per $100B GDP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 🇨🇳 China | 1,640,000+ | #1 | +9.3% | ~9,400 |
| 🇯🇵 Japan | 419,132 | #3 | Stable | ~9,600 |
| 🇰🇷 Korea | 287,954 | #4 | +2.6% | 7,309 (#1) |
| 🇮🇳 India | 64,480 | #6 | +15.7% | ~1,900 |
| 🇦🇺 Australia | 30,478 | Top 20 | -3.3% | ~1,800 |
🎯 Intensity Leader: South Korea leads globally in patent intensity with 7,309 applications per $100B GDP, reflecting the nation's emphasis on R&D investment and IP protection in strategic technology sectors.
🏛️ TT Infrastructure Comparison
| Country | Key Agency | TTO Network | Notable Feature |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🇨🇳 China | CNIPA | University tech parks | Massive scale, government-driven |
| 🇯🇵 Japan | MEXT/JST | UNITT | Private TLO model |
| 🇰🇷 Korea | KIAT/KIPO | University TTOs | 80% university IP ownership |
| 🇮🇳 India | DST/DSIR | IIT TTOs | Startup India ecosystem |
| 🇦🇺 Australia | IP Australia | University TTOs | Comprehensive IP reporting |
| 🇸🇬 Singapore | A*STAR/IPOS | NUS/NTU offices | Strong government support |
| 🇹🇼 Taiwan | TIPO | ITRI model | Semiconductor specialization |
Benchmark Your Institution
Compare your TTO metrics against Asia-Pacific standards
📚 Data Sources
- WIPO Statistics Database 2024
- IP Australia Annual Report 2025
- UNITT Japan TTO Network
- KIAT Korea
- Japan Patent Office (JPO)
- Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO)
- China National IP Administration (CNIPA)
- A*STAR Singapore
- Callaghan Innovation (New Zealand)
Data updated: January 2026