【欧洲专利局_EPO_】2024与水相关的技术专利创新：趋势与前景报告_56页_1mb

Summary of Innovation in Water-Related Technologies

Core Content

This document presents an analysis of innovation trends in water-related technologies, emphasizing the critical role of technological advancement in addressing global water challenges such as scarcity and flooding. It highlights the European Patent Office's (EPO) efforts to support innovation through a dedicated technology platform and the Deep Tech Finder, which helps identify promising startups in the water technology sector.

Main Points

• Global Water Challenges:

  • 2.2 billion people lack access to safely managed drinking water, and 3.5 billion lack safely managed sanitation services (UN, 2024).
  • Droughts and floods are becoming more frequent and severe, causing significant economic losses and affecting millions of people annually.

• Patent Landscape:

  • Water-related technologies account for 0.33% of all international patent families (IPFs) filed between 1992 and 2021.
  • The field has grown almost fourfold over 30 years, from 300 annual IPFs in the early 1990s to over 1200 in the 2020s.
  • Water treatment constitutes about 60% of all IPFs in this sector, with a focus on wastewater and sludge treatment, and tertiary water treatment technologies like disinfection and micropollutant removal.

• Geographic Innovation Trends:

  • Europe leads in water-related innovation, accounting for 40% of all IPFs in this field and showing a high level of specialisation.
  • Other countries like Australia, India, and Israel also show strong specialisation in water-related technologies.
  • The US and Japan show less specialisation, while China and South Korea are emerging as significant contributors to academic and public research innovations.

• Top Applicants:

  • Most top 15 applicants are private enterprises, with Veolia (France), Xylem (US), and Kurita (Japan) leading the list.
  • Six European and six Japanese companies are among the top 15, despite Japan's lower overall specialisation.
  • Swiss companies like Neoperl and Geberit are notable for their specialisation in efficient water utilisation.

• Role of Universities and PROs:

  • Academic and public research contributions to water-related innovations have increased from under 5% in the 1990s to 14% in 2017–2021.
  • Potable water harvesting is the field with the highest academic contribution, reaching over 21% in the most recent five-year period.
  • China leads in academic contributions, accounting for 26% of IPFs from its own country, while Europe and the US remain below 10%.

• EU Water Policy:

  • The Water Framework Directive (WFD) is a key legislative instrument in the EU for water management, aiming to secure clean water, manage flood risks, and protect groundwater and marine waters.
  • The EU faces significant water stress, with 29% of its territory and 30% of its population affected annually.
  • Climate change is exacerbating water scarcity and increasing flood risks, particularly in Southern and Central Europe.

• Case Studies:

  • Royal HaskoningDHV and Delft University of Technology: Developed the Nereda technology, which uses aerobic granular sludge to treat wastewater more efficiently, reducing energy use, space requirements, and chemical usage.
  • Orbital Systems: A case study on innovative water-related technologies, though details are not provided in the text.
  • Voltea: Another case study highlighting water technology innovation, though specific information is not included.

Key Innovations and Technologies

• Water Treatment:
  • Dominates the patent landscape, with a focus on automation and control systems in recent years.
• Potable Water Harvesting:
  • Shows the highest academic contribution, indicating growing interest in innovative solutions for water access.
• Efficient Water Utilisation:
  • Gaining traction, especially in countries with high specialisation.
• Protection Against Water Hazards:
  • Includes technologies for flood mitigation and water-related disaster prevention.

EPO's Role and Tools

• EPO Observatory on Patents and Technology:
  • Launched in 2023, it provides a platform for informed innovation discussions and supports collaboration between stakeholders.
• Deep Tech Finder (DTF):
  • A free digital tool that helps identify startups in the water technology sector.
• "Innovation in Water Technologies" Platform:
  • Offers 77 search queries in Espacenet to help users explore water-related innovations and find new solutions.

Conclusion

While water-related technologies are steadily advancing, they still need to evolve to meet the growing global challenges. Europe is a leading innovator in this field, supported by strong policy frameworks and regulatory changes. However, other regions are also making significant strides in developing and applying water technologies to address local water stress and hazards. The EPO's initiatives and tools are playing a crucial role in promoting and facilitating innovation in water technologies.