EPO-有关第四次工业革命的专利分析（英文）-2017-100页

报告摘要

Summary of "Patents and the Fourth Industrial Revolution"

Core Content

This document is a study by the European Patent Office (EPO) on the role of patents in the context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). It explores the technological innovations driving this revolution and their implications for the patent system and innovation ecosystems globally and in Europe.

Main Viewpoints

4IR is a transformative era characterized by the integration of information and communication technologies (ICT) into various sectors, enabling automation of both physical and intellectual tasks.
Patents are essential indicators of technological development and innovation trends, offering insights into the direction and speed of progress in 4IR technologies.
The EPO's role is pivotal in monitoring and analyzing these trends, using its extensive patent databases (such as Espacenet and PATSTAT) and expert examination practices to provide reliable data and analysis.
4IR innovation is accelerating and becoming more interdisciplinary, driven by connected objects, data, and software.

Key Information

1. The Building Blocks of the Fourth Industrial Revolution

The 4IR is defined as the full integration of ICT in manufacturing and application areas, such as personal, home, vehicle, enterprise, and infrastructure. It is not merely an acceleration of ICT development but a new phase of technological integration that includes:

Connected smart objects: These are objects with computing capabilities and network connectivity, capable of collecting and exchanging data autonomously. The number of such devices is expected to grow significantly, reaching 26-30 billion by 2025.
Data-driven value creation: The ability to collect, process, and analyze large volumes of data (big data) is central to 4IR. These data sets, when combined with cloud computing and AI, enable new forms of automation and decision-making.
Software-driven innovation: Software is increasingly the core of innovation, enabling the integration of hardware and connectivity into functional systems.

2. Methodology

The EPO used its PATSTAT database to systematically map and classify 4IR-related patent applications.
Espacenet provides access to over 100 million patent documents from 100+ countries, offering a comprehensive view of global innovation.
Patent applications were classified into three main sectors:
- Core technologies: Hardware, software, and connectivity.
- Enabling technologies: Analytics, security, AI, power supply, 3D systems, and user interfaces.
- Application domains: Home, personal, enterprise, manufacturing, infrastructure, and vehicles.

3. Innovation Trends

Growth of 4IR patent applications has been significantly higher than the overall patent growth rate, with a 54% increase in the last three years.
Connectivity and enterprise applications have attracted the largest number of patent applications, while 3D systems, AI, and user interfaces are the fastest-growing fields.
Europe remains a strong innovation hub, with European inventors responsible for almost 30% of all 4IR patent applications filed with the EPO up to 2016.
Germany and France are leading in 4IR innovation within Europe, with Germany excelling in manufacturing, infrastructure, and vehicles, and France in AI, security, and user interfaces.

4. Global Geography of 4IR Inventions

Europe, the USA, and Japan have been the main innovation centers since the mid-1990s.
China and South Korea are rapidly catching up, with a faster growth rate in 4IR patent applications.
In South Korea, the majority of 4IR applications come from Samsung and LG, while in China, Huawei and ZTE dominate, focusing on core technologies.

5. Top Applicants in 4IR

The top 25 applicants accounted for about half of all 4IR patent applications at the EPO between 2011 and 2016.
These companies are primarily focused on ICT, and their patent positions reflect strong innovation in core and enabling technologies.
The top 10 European applicants show a more diverse range of industries compared to non-European applicants.

6. Technology Convergence

4IR technologies are converging across sectors, with a growing integration of core technologies with application domains and enabling technologies.
This convergence is evident in the way AI, cloud computing, and IoT are combined to create new applications in areas like smart manufacturing and smart health.

7. Focus on Europe

Europe's 4IR innovation is regionally concentrated, with the greater Paris area and greater Munich area being the top regions for 4IR patents.
The EPO's analysis shows that Germany and France are the main contributors, with the UK, Sweden, Switzerland, Finland, and the Netherlands also showing significant inventive activity.

Conclusion

The study highlights that 4IR innovation is accelerating, and it is becoming more interdisciplinary and globally distributed. Europe continues to be a key player in the development of 4IR technologies, with strong contributions from Germany and France. The EPO is well-positioned to support the analysis of these trends and to ensure the legal certainty for innovators in this rapidly evolving field. The patent system remains a critical tool for tracking and understanding the technological landscape of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

References and Annexes

The study includes a list of abbreviations, countries, and tables/figures.
Annexes provide additional data, including a concordance table between CPC fields and 4IR technology fields, and a geographic origin analysis of 4IR inventions.

Summary of Key Findings

4IR innovation is accelerating and becoming more interdisciplinary.
Europe is a leading innovation hub, with Germany and France at the forefront.
China and South Korea are rapidly catching up in 4IR patent applications.
Connectivity and enterprise applications are the most active areas in 4IR patenting.
Cloud computing, AI, and IoT are central to the transformation of various sectors.
Patents provide early signals of technological trends and are a key asset for innovation and competition.

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