Today, biotechnology is presented as an incentive for development and research, applying innovative solutions that transform and improve the quality of life through the integration of advanced technologies.

Positioning itself as one of the main fields for research and development, biotechnology becomes an opportunity for research centres, companies and investors, whose objective and main challenge is to solve some of the major challenges in health, environment or agriculture.

Thanks to the integration of artificial intelligence and engineering, this field is a benchmark in the development of sustainable solutions to global problems and is also a source of job creation.

The protection of intangible assets derived from research is a fundamental cornerstone for the development of all types of biotechnology projects. And in this sense, biotechnology patents are presented as a legal tool that protects inventions and progress in the field of biotechnology. Their proper management is essential to maximise their benefits and foster future innovation.

The importance of biotechnology patents.

The Biotechnology sector has experienced a remarkable boom both in Europe and in Spain through funding programs, such as Horizon Europe, and collaboration between companies, universities and research centres.

In Spain, the clusters formed in regions such as Catalonia or Madrid have created an environment conducive to collaboration, a solid innovation ecosystem in which qualified human talent and a growing concern for the environment and health make Biotechnology a booming sector.

The data back this up.

At the European level:

• The registration of biotechnology patents increased by 5.9%, ranking eighth with 8,367 applications.
• It should be noted that 95.23% of European patent applications received by the EPO are registered as unitary patents. 

At the national level:

• The biotechnology sector ranks as the third sector in number of European patent applications filed, after the pharmaceutical sector and machinery, appliance and electrical energy sectors.
• The number of bio patent applications in Spain has increased by 6.1% (in second place).
• Spain is the tenth European country to increase the number of patent applications filed, at + 43.5%.
• 97.74% of European patent applications of Spanish origin received by the EPO are registered as unitary patents.

Advantages that patents offer to companies

1. They protect complex innovations. Patents secure exclusive rights to high-impact technologies.

2. They promote investment. Having a protected asset encourages companies to invest in long-term, high-risk research.

3. They drive Research and Development (R&D). Patent granting enables biotechnology companies to obtain financing and ensure the return on their investment in R&D.

4. They obtain a competitive advantage. Owning a patent allows companies to strengthen their brand and reputation, differentiate themselves from their competitors, and position themselves as leaders in specific technologies.

These advantages are transformed into opportunities, as a commitment to an adequate patent registration means investing in the future of science and global health, as well as favouring the comprehensive protection of the results obtained from research.

In this sense, a new unified protection system for European patents, the Unitary Patent, was implemented in 2023.

The Unitary Patent is presented as an opportunity or alternative to the traditional way of validating protection, as it offers significant advantages and facilitates the expansion of biotechnological innovations in the European market.

In the first six months since its implementation in 2023, unitary patent applications in the biotechnology sector have represented 10% of the total number of European biotechnology patent applications.

This sector is one of those that has shown the greatest interest in this unitary protection system due to the simplification of the application filing procedure, the reduction in costs, and the strategic benefits that the unitary patent provides. In a sector where research is costly and processes are lengthy, filing a unitary patent application means simplifying procedures and being able to validate the patent in several European countries in a single procedure. Additionally, the unitary patent becomes the most profitable option for patent protection and settling potential disputes in Europe.

For all these reasons, committing to proper patent registration means, without question, investing in the future of science and global health.

Discover all the advantages of the Unitary Patent and take advantage of the opportunities offered by this means of protection for your inventions.