PCT Yearly Review - WIPO

Section A
use of the pct system
SECTION A
USE OF THE PCT SYSTEM
A.1
Part I - International Phase:
Filing of PCT Applications
Global Trend
The PCT application data presented in the first part of
section A refer to the international phase of the PCT
procedure. This section provides a brief overview of the
global trend and then focuses on PCT applications by
receiving office, country of origin and geographical region.
It also contains PCT data by type of applicant and field
of technology. Data for selected receiving offices and
origins are included in the report. The statistical annex
provides data for all offices and origins.
A.1.1 Trend in PCT applications
Figure A.1.1 depicts the number of PCT applications filed
since 1990 along with annual growth rates.
An estimated 194,400 PCT applications were filed worldwide
in 2012, representing an increase of 6.6% over 2011.
This was the third consecutive year of annual growth. The
growth rate for 2012 is lower than that observed in 2011,
but similar to those seen in 2004 and 2007.
Figure A.1.1: Trend in PCT applications
PCT applications Growth rate (%)
200,000
150,000
PCT applications
100,000
50,000
0
. 15.5 11.0 14.7 17.4 17.0 20.5 18.3 17.5 13.9 22.1 16.1 2.0 4.4 6.4 11.5 9.4 6.9 2.1
-4.8
5.7 11.0 6.6
1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012
International filing year
Note: 2012 data are WIPO estimates.
Source: WIPO Statistics Database, March 2013
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