For the first time ever, it's not the US that's filed more international patent applications than any other country. In 2019, China topped the chart.
Does this indicate a shift in the centre of gravity for innovation worldwide? Does it indicate that China is taking intellectual property more seriously? Or, given these are figures for international applications rather than domestic ones, is it a consequence of a less globalised outlook?
I suspect it's probably a combination of all of the above and more.
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China was the biggest source of applications for international patents in the world last year, pushing the United States out of the top spot it has held since the global system was set up more than 40 years ago
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