UK-based computer technology research, development and innovation activity, especially in subsectors such as AI and quantum technologies, is going strong, according to a report on patent filing activity published by the European Patent Office (EPO). Other sectors where innovation activity is strong include consumer products and medical technologies.

The Technology Dashboard, published on 24 March 2026, shows that UK-based companies filed 5,875 European patent applications in 2025, which was 3.3 per cent down on the previous year (6,076), and the first year of negative growth since 2021. However, it is noted that patent applications originating in the UK have increased by 13.5 per cent since 2016, and the underlying trend indicates growth.

Overall, the EPO received 201,974 patent applications in 2025, representing a 1.4 per cent increase compared with the previous year (199,264) and marking the first time that applications exceeded 200,000. The top filing countries of origin were the USA (47,008), Germany (24,476) and China (22,031) – with China entering the top three for the first time, displacing Japan (21,304). In ninth position, the UK was responsible for 2.9 per cent of the total patent applications received by the EPO in 2025.

Whilst the EPO has confirmed that it received fewer European patent applications from UK-based innovators in 2025 than in the previous year, it is clear that the underlying trend is for steady growth. In particular, the UK’s strengths in computer technology, consumer goods and medical technologies are highlighted in the dashboard; a strong indication that innovation activity is taking place.

In ‘computer technology’, UK-based innovators filed 579 European patent applications in 2025, maintaining the strong growth achieved in 2023-2024. In AI-related sub-fields of computer technology, the UK recorded a 29 per cent increase in European patent applications – the highest increase among leading European countries, and second globally only to China. In the small but emerging field of quantum technologies, UK innovators more than doubled their European patent filings in 2025.

Another sector of strength for UK innovators is ‘consumer goods’, where the UK ranked second with 478 European patent applications in 2025, although this was down on the previous year, largely due to a spike in filings for vaping technologies. UK-based innovators of medical technologies filed 474 European patent applications in 2025, reflecting 10 per cent growth compared to the previous year.

The dashboard demonstrates that investment in UK-based innovation activity is strong, but we must continue to build on this position of strength. The launch of the UK Government’s Modern Industrial Strategy, along with its eight Sector Plans last year, has created some momentum, which is evident in patent filing activity.

Earlier this month, the Government announced a funding package of up to £2bn to support the development and commercialisation of quantum technologies, with the aim of making the UK the first country in the world to roll out quantum computers at scale.

Top UK-based filers of European patents

Of the UK companies that filed patent applications at the EPO in 2025, Unilever filed the largest number, with 423 filings. It was the second biggest applicant in organic fine chemistry at the EPO of all applicants globally, just behind BASF. British American Tobacco was in second place with 396 applications, followed by BAE Systems with 228.

Other leading UK-based applicants included Rolls-Royce (192), AstraZeneca (169), British Telecommunications (161), Linde (158), Imperial Brands (140), Vodafone Group (109) and Shell (108). AstraZeneca ranked fourth at the EPO in pharmaceuticals and seventh in biotechnology, increasing filings in both fields despite the overall decline in these sectors at the EPO.

Two universities, Oxford and Cambridge, were also among the UK’s top 20 applicants in 2025. Both featured in the EPO ranking of European universities by patent applications (7th and 11th, respectively).

The role of patents in helping companies to monetise their innovations, recouping the upfront cost of their R&D investment, is crucial to maintaining momentum and enabling economic growth.

Jim Ribeiro, partner and patent attorney at European intellectual property firm, Withers & Rogers.