Global patent trends

Global patent development

After stagnating throughout the 2000s, global patenting activity in space technologies has accelerated significantly since 2011 (Figure D2). Between 2011 and 2023, the number of patent family publications increased six-fold, from around 1,400 to almost 9000 patent family publications in 2023. This corresponds to an compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of patent family publications of around 8% between 2000 and 2023, and around 15% between 2010 and 2023. In total, the patent search identified more than 67,000 patent families in the field of space transportation since 2000. Around 50,000 of these were considered active at the time of this analysis.

There are two main reasons for the acceleration of space exploration efforts since 2010. First, the emergence and rapid growth of private companies venturing into space in recent years has transformed space exploration, which was once dominated solely by government agencies. ⁽¹⁾Medium (2023). The rise of private companies in space exploration: Revolutionizing the final frontier. Available at: https://medium.com/techcrate/the-rise-of-private-companies-in-space-exploration-revolutionizing-the-final-frontier-71d0a273b419. This has brought in fresh ideas, spurred innovation and pushed the boundaries of what's possible in the exploration of space. These new entrants tend to fall into two categories: non-space companies, particularly large information and communication technology (ICT) companies such as Google or Facebook, keen to expand their activities and build on the synergies between ICT and space applications; and new private space companies, such as SpaceX, which use private and or public funding to initiate innovative business models and to address new space markets or existing space markets with disruptive solutions. ⁽²⁾ESPI (2017). The Rise of Private Actors in the Space Sector. European Space Policy Institute. Available at: www.espi.or.at/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/ESPI-report-The-rise-of-private-actors-Executive-Summary-1.pdf. The emergence of these new private companies is leading the space sector toward a more business- and innovation-oriented scenario, often referred to as New Space. ⁽³⁾EPO (2021). Cosmonautics: The Development of Space-Related Technologies in Terms of Patent Activity. Munich: European Patent Office. Available at: www.econsight.ch/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/patent_insight_report-cosmonautics_en.pdf. This trend also enables public actors to consider more ambitious partnerships with industry, and to better share costs and risks with the private sector.

Second, a resurgence of the international space race, with new entrants such as China, India and Japan investing heavily in space technologies, has also been a driver of innovation activity. For example, Chinese startup LandSpace Technology plans to soon launch reusable rockets using a similar approach to SpaceX, while India aims to begin a series of flight tests for eventual crewed spaceflight in 2025. ⁽⁴⁾NikkeiAsia (2024). Space race to heat up in 2024 as Japan, China, India reach for the stars. Available at: https://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Aerospace-Defense-Industries/Space-race-to-heat-up-in-2024-as-Japan-China-India-reach-for-the-stars. Moreover, Japan succeeded in landing on the Moon in 2024, becoming only the fifth country to make it to the lunar surface. ⁽⁵⁾East Asia Forum (2024). Asia’s ascendance in the new international space order. Available at: https://eastasiaforum.org/2024/05/22/asias-ascendance-in-the-new-international-space-order.

Overview of the four technology trends

To provide an overview of key technology trends, we analyzed and collected all patent family publications related to both space transport technologies (cosmonautics, satellites etc.) and one of the four key technology trends (Sustainable Propulsion/Efficient Aircraft Turbines, Automation and Circularity, Communication and Security, and Human–Machine Interface).

The vast majority of space research efforts are focused on Communication and Security technologies. Between 2000 and 2023, the number of published patent families in this area increased from around 1,350 to more than 8,500 (Figure D3). Patenting activity in Automation and Circularity technologies has increased from only 17 in 2000 to around 460 patent families published in 2023. A similar trend was observed in the field of Sustainable Propulsion. In Human–Machine Interface technologies, the number of patent families published worldwide increased from 43 in 2000 to 180 in 2023.

Patent growth has been highest in Automation and Circularity technologies, as shown in Figure D4, with a CAGR of 15% between 2000 and 2023 and a sharp acceleration since 2011. Patent growth in the other technology trends has been in the high single digits between 2000 and 2023.

Patent coverage

A look at the filing authorities of patent families in space transport technologies provides insights into global filing strategies. ⁽⁶⁾Members of patent families can be filed directly in one or more countries, via national patent offices, via the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) route administered by WIPO or via the European Patent Convention (EP) route administered by the European Patent Office. Figure D5 shows China to be the top country in terms of patent filings. Between 2000 and 2023, more than 43,600 patent families in space transport technologies were filed in China seeking patent protection. The United States of America (US) has also attracted many patent filings since 2000 (24,673).

The third and fourth most important filing authorities are the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) and European Patent Convention (EP). Since 2000, there have been more than 15,000 patent family publications under the PCT and almost 13,000 patent family publications via the EP route.