Together with the European Investment Bank, the European Patent Office has analyzed patent applications for clean and sustainable technologies in a study (download link below). The Austrian Patent Office has analyzed the country-specific data for Austria in detail, here is an overview of the most important results:

• With a 2.6% share of patent applications in clean and sustainable technologies, Austria ranks 6th within the EU.
• In the last 20 years, patent applications for clean and sustainable technologies in Austria have tripled.
• There are 18.3 such patent applications per million inhabitants in Austria. The leader in Europe here is Denmark with 46.5 patent applications per million inhabitants, with Germany close behind with 43.3 patent applications per million inhabitants.

Austria is particularly strong in these technologies

How strong a country is in a particular technology area is determined using the so-called specialization advantage. This measures the specialization of a country in relation to its overall innovative strength:

• Austria is one of the six European countries with the highest specialization advantage in clean and sustainable technologies
• Austria ranks first in Europe in the field of buildings. This includes, for example, patent applications in the areas of efficient heating and lighting systems, photovoltaics and wind and hydropower for buildings.
• Austria also has a pioneering position – fourth place in a Europe-wide comparison – in climate-friendly technologies in the field of wastewater and waste management. This includes technologies such as recycling and reuse, waste separation and wastewater treatment.
• In an international comparison, Europe is still in first place for green innovations with 22 percent, followed by the USA with 20 percent. China is starting to catch up and currently accounts for 15 percent.

Statements

Climate Protection Minister Leonore Gewessler (Austria): “The future of our economy and industry is climate-neutral. This requires many sustainable innovations and I am very pleased that we are among the world leaders in this field thanks to Austrian inventiveness. Thanks to the many inventors, we are not only creating solutions for the major problems of our time, but also increasing the attractiveness of green products ‘Made in Austria’ internationally, and in the long term.”

Patent Office President Stefan Harasek: “The new figures from the green tech sector are impressive – because they show how innovative Austria is. Especially when it comes to clean technologies. The Austrian Patent Office will continue to do everything in its power to give innovations the best possible framework so that they can thrive and be profitably exploited. Because one thing is clear: we need good ideas to solve the challenges of our time.”

Download complete study: en-financing-and-commercialisation-of-cleantech-innovation-study