In 2025, the US stands at the crossroads of a new innovation era. With a $100 billion investment plan aimed at AI and clean energy, spearheaded by major players like Google, Blackstone and Frontier Group, the country is reshaping the global tech and energy landscape. This is no accident, the country has been building this momentum for years, and it’s evident in the surge of patent filings.
From 2015 to 2025, the United States of America (USA) has consistently ranked among the world’s top innovators, securing the 3rd spot in the WIPO’s Global Innovation Index (GII) in 2024. Its position reflects a robust patent pipeline, with over 350,000 patents granted in 2024 alone.
As we explore the patent trends over the last decade (2015-2025), it is clear that the United States remains a cornerstone of global innovation, driving new technologies that will define the next generation.
How Many Patents were published & granted in the USA 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. 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 Applications | Granted Patent Count |
| 2025 | 481,478 | 233,633 |
| 2024 | 769,280 | 370,830 |
| 2023 | 734,454 | 346,823 |
| 2022 | 747,992 | 356,857 |
| 2021 | 736,749 | 359,632 |
| 2020 | 760,082 | 386,481 |
| 2019 | 746,445 | 388,941 |
| 2018 | 682,541 | 337,690 |
| 2017 | 691,000 | 349,256 |
| 2016 | 683,883 | 331,855 |
| 2015 | 680,371 | 324,703 |
The US patent landscape has been steadily evolving over the last decade, and the data tells an intriguing story. In 2020, patent publications hit a peak, reaching over 760,000 before dipping in the subsequent years. This was a high point, reflecting the nation’s expanding patent activity across various industries.
As we move toward 2024 and 2025, an interesting shift occurs. While the number of published patents is highest in 2024 (769,280), the number of granted patents lagged significantly, reaching only 370,830. This growing gap highlights the strain the USPTO faces, with a substantial backlog of pending patents.
The patent trend from 2015 to 2024 showcases a consistent increase in innovation, with a clear need for faster processing to match the pace of filings.
Which countries contribute the most to innovations in the US?
When it comes to securing intellectual property in the US, global players are making their presence felt. Between 2015 and 2025, the United States leads the pack. Japan stands firmly in second place followed by China demonstrating their desire to safeguard inventions in the world’s largest market. Other countries, such as South Korea and Germany also make their mark, demonstrating their global ambitions.
As the US continues to be the focal point for patent protection, these figures underscore a dynamic, interconnected global patent ecosystem, where nations are vying for a competitive edge in the world’s innovation hub.
Which Are The Top 50 Companies with most US patents?
| Company | Patent Count |
| Samsung | 144797 |
| IBM | 76080 |
| LG | 67361 |
| Qualcomm | 44100 |
| Canon | 43628 |
| TSMC | 40367 |
| Apple | 39995 |
| Intel | 36447 |
| Sony | 34592 |
| Huawei | 34583 |
| Toyota | 34482 |
| Microsoft | 33960 |
| 30617 | |
| Hyundai | 24950 |
| BOE Technology | 24052 |
| Ford | 22000 |
| Ericsson | 21674 |
| Fujifilm | 21660 |
| Panasonic | 21375 |
| Amazon | 21290 |
| Toshiba | 20635 |
| Micron | 18399 |
| Mitsubishi Electric | 18326 |
| Seiko Epson | 18305 |
| Sumitomo Group | 17643 |
| Honda | 17121 |
| General Electric | 17031 |
| Kia | 16767 |
| Bosch | 16753 |
| NEC | 16281 |
| GM Global | 15689 |
| Fujitsu | 14044 |
| Boeing | 13695 |
| Dell | 13534 |
| Denso | 13177 |
| Cisco | 13002 |
| Ricoh | 12805 |
| Meta | 12602 |
| RTX | 12481 |
| Texas Instruments | 12413 |
| Nokia | 12411 |
| Philips | 12147 |
| Sharp | 11928 |
| Murata | 11927 |
| HP | 11919 |
| SK Hynix | 11507 |
| Siemens | 11113 |
| Nike | 11068 |
| NTT | 10471 |
| AT&T | 10397 |
Which Foreign Companies filed most patents in the US?
The chart reveals a clear pattern: Asian giants dominate the list of foreign patent filers in the US with Samsung leading the way. This is no surprise, given Japan and South Korea’s technological prowess, particularly in consumer electronics, semiconductors, and automotive technologies. For these countries, the US patent system offers unmatched protection, allowing them to secure their innovations in one of the world’s most competitive markets.
Following closely is LG, highlighting South Korea’s relentless focus on technology innovation. Meanwhile, China has seen a growing number of patent filings, led by Huawei, signaling its expanding footprint in telecommunications and tech.
Interestingly, Germany also plays a key role, with companies like Siemens and Bosch filing patents for innovations in industrial automation and automotive sectors, securing their global edge in high-tech manufacturing.
So, why the push for US patents? It’s clear: companies from these countries are not just protecting their innovations, they are strategically positioning themselves in the US market, leveraging its advanced technological infrastructure and robust intellectual property laws to stay ahead globally.
The decade-long view shows where the US patent landscape has been heading, but 2024 reveals something more immediate. The insights below are based solely on the US patent trends in 2024.
Top Universities and Research Institutions with Most US Patents in 2024
Leading SME’s Companies in the US for 2024
Law firms with the most patent prosecutions in the US in 2024
Key Female Inventors with Most US Patent in 2024
| Inventors | Patents | Associated Company |
| Xiaoxia Zhang | 539 | Qualcomm |
| Jelena Damnjanovic | 185 | Qualcomm |
| Jing Lei | 104 | Qualcomm |
| Marta Karczewicz | 101 | Qualcomm |
| Molly Anderson | 63 | Apple |
| Janet A Stern-Berkowitz | 62 | InterDigital |
| Celia Nicole Mourkogiannis | 50 | Snap |
| Amrita Mathuriya | 48 | Kepler Computing/ Stealth Startup |
| Diana Maamari | 47 | Qualcomm |
| Elena Alshina | 45 | Huawei |
| Lin Ni Lisa Cheng | 43 | JPMorgan Chase |
| Junli Wang | 43 | IBM |
| Sorour Falahati | 43 | Ericsson |
| Johanna M Swan | 42 | Intel |
| Shawna M Liff | 41 | Intel |
| Catalina Mihaela Mladin | 40 | Convida Wireless/ InterDigital |
| Fatma Arzum Simsek-Ege | 39 | Micron Technology |
| Christie Marie Heikkinen | 37 | Snap |
| Olufunmilola Omolade Awoniyi-Oteri | 36 | Qualcomm |
| Clara Geneviève Marine Courtaigne | 35 | Siblings/ Apple |
| Lakshmi R Iyer | 33 | Apple |
| Reshma Lal | 33 | Advanced Micro Devices |
| Nazanin Rastegardoost | 32 | Ofinno Technologies |
| Jean Luo | 32 | SISTERS |
| Lopamudra Kundu | 23 | O-Ran Alliance/ Nvidia |
Xiaoxia Zhang, based in San Diego, CA, is a distinguished inventor with over 539 patents in the US. At Qualcomm, Zhang has pioneered advancements in ultra-wide bandwidth beamforming systems, including innovations like scheduling offset optimization and beamformed channel busy ratio measurement to enhance network performance and efficiency. Collaborating with experts like Jing X Sun and Tao Luo, Zhang has significantly contributed to the future of wireless technology, cementing his reputation as a leader in the field.
Top Technology Areas with most published patents in 2024
Top 10 Technology Areas covered in the US for the year 2024 include:
- Display device
- Electrode
- Semiconductor
- Battery cell
- Electrical battery
- Si substrate
- Hemt circuits
- Electrically conductive
- Electronic equipment
- Server
Top 10 Application Areas covered by patents filed in the US in the year 2024 are:
- Electric digital data processing
- Digital transmission
- Semiconductor devices
- Computer peripheral equipment
- Image data processing
- Pharmaceutical active ingredients
- Computing models
- Solid-state devices
- Data processing applications
- Scientific instruments
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