j-simunek-shutterstock-com
9 December 2015Patents

Europe at the heart of green technology, EPO claims

Europe is the centre of green technology development, a joint report from the European Patent Office (EPO) and the UN has claimed.

According to the EPO and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), there has been a fivefold increase in the number of patent applications covering climate-change mitigation technologies (CCMT).

Europe was identified as leading the way in developing renewable technology, accounting for almost a fifth of all low-carbon inventions around the world.

The findings, which assessed worldwide patent applications between 1995 and 2011, were included in a report called “ Climate Change Mitigation Technologies in Europe”.

The report, published yesterday, December 8, coincides with the UN’s convention on climate change currently taking place in Paris.

According to the report, the number of CCMT patent applications in 2011 represented 6% of all global inventions compared to 2% in 1995.

Benoît Battistelli, president of the EPO, said: “The report shows that in combination with clear legislation and policies to promote CCMT, the patent system can support research, development and innovation in the field, as well as boosting trade and investment flows, and the transfer of these new technologies to other regions.”

Achim Steiner, executive director of UNEP, said: “This report provides a clear and comprehensive picture of the contribution of Europe to CCMT development and dissemination.”

Already registered?

Login to your account

To request a FREE 2-week trial subscription, please signup.
NOTE - this can take up to 48hrs to be approved.

Two Weeks Free Trial

For multi-user price options, or to check if your company has an existing subscription that we can add you to for FREE, please email Adrian Tapping at atapping@newtonmedia.co.uk