The global aerospace, defence & security industry experienced a 7% decline in patent filings in Q4 2023 compared with the previous quarter. The total number of grants dropped by 4%, resulting in overall patent publications decreasing by 7.2%, according to GlobalData’s Patent Analytics. GlobalData’s databook Aerospace, Defense & Security: Patents Trends Q4 2023 offers comprehensive insights into patenting trends, major players’ strategies, and geographical focus in the sector over the last three years. Buy the databook here.

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Notably, the number of patent applications in the aerospace, defence & security industry was 12,994 in Q4 2023, versus 13,994 in the prior quarter. Filings were down 14% year-on-year and decrease 7% quarter-on-quarter. This compares to a 14% year-on-year decrease in patent grants and 7% decline in quarter-on-quarter.

The top five companies accounted for 21% of patenting activity

Analysis of patenting activity by companies shows that the largest number of patents filed over the last quarter was by RTX with 1,067, followed by Safran with 600 and Airbus with 385.

Patenting activity was driven by China with a 32% share of total patent filings

The largest share of patent filings in the aerospace, defence & security industry in Q4 2023 was in China with 32%, followed by the US (24%) and Japan (5%). The share represented by China was 9% lower than the 41% share it accounted for in Q3 2023.

For further understanding of GlobalData's Aerospace, Defense & Security: Patents Trends Q4 2023, buy the databook here.

This content was updated on 23 January 2024

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GlobalData, the leading provider of industry intelligence, provided the underlying data, research, and analysis used to produce this article.

GlobalData’s Patent Analytics tracks patent filings and grants from official offices around the world. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.