Patent data are an insightful analytical resource to investigate the state and dynamics of the space sector. Over the past four years, the European Space Policy Institute (ESPI) has engaged in a tri-lateral research partnership with the European Patent Office and European Space Agency aimed at analysing patent filing data in various segments of the space sector.
Four Patent Insights reports have been produced so far as a result, all freely available, including with complementary resources:
• Cosmonautics
• Quantum Technologies and Space
• Spaceborne Sensing and Green Applications
• Propulsion Systems for Space
Why patent data? Patent filing statistics provide interesting indicators to measure and examine innovation, commercialisation and knowledge transfer trends. Dedicated exploitation of these patent databases and registers can reveal unique insights into sector trends and support. Patents provide means of observing technology trends, key innovators and policies. This data can be combined with further public information such as national R&D budgets and specific market studies.
As the patent office for Europe, the EPO supports innovation, competitiveness and economic growth in Europe. We are pleased to have participated in these studies and our motivation was to support the innovativeness in this specific area, to give the possibility to improve on that, and to show how to effectively use the information contained in patents to derive knowledge from that … and of course it was also a great opportunity to collaborate with ESPI and ESA.
The synergy between the three institutions has been instrumental in advancing patent insights within the space sector. By merging technical innovations with comprehensive patent data analysis and market and policy trends, this collaboration has yielded significant findings. These reports have received positive recognition both within and beyond the European Space Agency, offering crucial data that shapes the ESA Innovation Services for the European Space Industry.
What have we learned? Out of numerous insights and takeaways, we curated below four showcased insights, one from each EPO-ESPI-ESA Patent Insight Reports:
1. There has been a steep worldwide growth in patent filing in the field of “cosmonautics”[1] in the past decade, and European activity has been a contributing factor to this trend. While the dramatic increase in worldwide cosmonautics patent filings in recent years has largely been driven by Chinese filings, the overall increasing trend would be present even if the activity of Chinese applicants were disregarded. In Europe, cosmonautics patent filing activity has also experienced growth since 2010. Propulsion, spacecraft electrical power and space system control account for the largest proportion of patent filing activity.
2. Space applications of Quantum technologies remain a niche segment, representing only a fraction of the overall quantum domain. Space-related patent filings represent less than 15% of all patent filings (including quantum key distribution, cold atom clocks and cold atom interferometers). When considering all Quantum technologies patent filings, space-related applications represent an even smaller share as most filings concern inventions with constrained potential for uptake in the space environment (e.g. quantum computing).
3. Patent filing activity in space-borne sensing has grown rapidly, notably surpassing the overall trendline. Filings in green applications of space-borne sensing increased in 2020 by 1 800% compared with the number of filings in 2001. This is very high compared with the growth of global patent filings in all technology fields (400% in the same period). This high growth is mainly caused by the increasing number of filings in signal processing. The vast utility of space-borne sensing in support of various business cases and public policies, accompanied by profound societal challenges that could be addressed using satellite data, will likely provide a fertile ground for sustained growth in patent filing activity.
4. International filing activity of European applicants in space propulsion is high (37%) but following a slowing trend line. This reflects broader trends in many sectors, especially technological, where Europe has lost ground over the last few decades caused by the emergence of new players and a lack of a coherent European response. Europe has historically been a leader in transformative innovation, shaping entire centuries with its advancements. In recent decades, however, it seems to have encountered challenges in sustaining this pioneering momentum.
[1] Cooperative Patent Classification subclass B64G pertains to cosmonautics and includes vehicles or equipment specifically adapted for cosmonautics.
ESPI’s role as Europe’s independent think-tank for space necessitates us to utilise a variety of research tools and methodologies, in order to foster a more impactful space policy making in Europe and contribute to a strong Europe as a partner to the World. The patent data analysis allows us to better understand, cross-validate key trends in the space sector, incl. in connection to public policies and business strategies.
Related public resources:
- “Earth observation for a greener planet” episode in EPO’s Talk Innovation podcast
- “Space innovation” technology platform of the EPO
- “Space technologies: tracking innovation and startup development” online event
- “Earth observation inspires global inventiveness” article on ESA website
- “Spaceborne sensing and green applications” patent knowledge (video) nugget
- “Spaceborne sensing and green applications” presentation at Patent Knowledge Week 2022
- “Patent Insight Reports – Space Industry Snapshots in the Light of Patent Data” presentation at ESA’s Industry Space Days 2022
- “Quantum Technologies and Space” online event recording
- “Quantum technologies’ journey to space seen in patent survey” article on ESA website
- Presentation of EPO/ESPI/ESA Patent Insight Report “Spaceborne sensing and green applications” at the UN/Austria Symposium 2022 on Space for climate action
- “Patent Insight Report – Quantum technologies and space” column and infographic on SpaceWatch.Global
- “Analysis of patent filing data in the space sector: key findings and lessons learned” interactive presentation at International Astronautical Congress 2022
- “Expanding space fuels global growth in patent filings” article on ESA website
- ESPI promotional video of EPO-ESPI-ESA cooperation on patent insight reports
- “Patent Intelligence for quantum technologies in space” EPO Patent information tool
- “Space-borne sensing and green applications” EPO Patent information tool
