Switzerland has long been recognized as a global leader in innovation. Consistently ranking at the top of the World Intellectual Property Organization’s (WIPO) Global Innovation Index (GII), the country boasts a robust ecosystem that fosters ground-breaking research and development.
The GII, the most comprehensive ranking of global innovation capabilities, has placed Switzerland at the top for an impressive 13 consecutive years (as of 2023).
To better understand what has been happening there, we have attempted to delve deeper into the data of the patents filed in the last five years (2019–2023).
Exploring all the patents published in Switzerland in the last 5 years
How Many Patents were published & granted in Switzerland Every Year?
Also, are you wondering why there is a drop in patent filing for the last two years? It is because a patent application can take up to 18 months to get published. Certainly, it doesn’t suggest a decrease in patent filing.
Note: Because it can take up to 18 months for a patent application to be published, we are considering total records of published patent applications for our research, utilising the most recent year’s patent count for comparison.
| Year | Published Patent Count | Granted Patent Count |
| 2019 | 4702 | 672 |
| 2020 | 3955 | 669 |
| 2021 | 4001 | 722 |
| 2022 | 3708 | 764 |
| 2023 | 3684 | 416 |
Where do the majority of Switzerland’s innovations come from?
This chart talks about the primary sources or locations where a significant number of innovations in Switzerland originate. It’s inquiring about the main regions responsible for generating the most innovations within the country.
The major contributions in patent filing, outside Switzerland, has come from the Germany & EPO.
It’s no surprise that Germany would be a significant contributor to patents filed in Switzerland, especially considering their geographical proximity and potential collaborations.
EPO (European Patent Office): Not a country, but an intergovernmental organization that grants patents valid across many European countries. Companies and inventors might file patents through the EPO to gain protection for their inventions in multiple European markets. So, a high number of EPO filings in Switzerland signifies the international interest in protecting inventions there.
Top Patent Filers & Innovators in Switzerland
Most Innovative Companies of Switzerland
Below is the list of 30 key companies driving innovation in Switzerland:
| Assignee | Patent Count |
| Apple | 491 |
| The Swatch | 387 |
| ETA SA | 256 |
| Richemont | 248 |
| Man Energy Solutions | 184 |
| Meso Scale Technologies | 184 |
| Breguet | 159 |
| LEDWERKSTATT | 137 |
| Omega | 129 |
| Alpla | 112 |
| Nivarox | 103 |
| Seiko Instruments | 91 |
| V-Zug | 70 |
| Patek Philippe | 66 |
| Blancpain | 64 |
| Staubli | 57 |
| Comadur | 46 |
| Liebherr | 44 |
| Ferag | 42 |
| Illumina | 40 |
| LapseChain | 40 |
| LVMH | 39 |
| Assos Of Switzerland | 38 |
| Manufactur | 38 |
| Asprey | 37 |
| Reishauer | 37 |
| Rolex | 36 |
| Saphyre | 36 |
| Geberit | 33 |
| Innovatoys | 32 |
Here are some interesting observations based on the list:
- Watch Industry Presence: Several prominent Swiss watchmakers like Rolex, Omega, Patek Philippe, Swatch, and Breguet are on the list, reflecting Switzerland’s long history and expertise in watchmaking.
- Manufacturing Focus: Companies like Liebherr (machines and tools) and Alpla (plastic packaging) highlight Switzerland’s manufacturing strength in various sectors.
- Emerging Technologies: The presence of Illumina (biotechnology) and LapseChain (blockchain) indicates innovation in newer technological areas as well.
Key Inventors of Switzerland
