Europe falls behind in quantum patents despite strong growth
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Europe risks losing out in the patent race for new quantum technologies, warns a report from the European Quantum Information Consortium.
“European companies could be at risk, even in their own market, if they do not invest in patents,” says the report.
“Dominant patent positions of non-European companies can present obstacles for European companies wanting to commercialise their technology within Europe. This could hamper potential business for European companies and stifle innovation within Europe.”
The report looks at patents filed globally up until the middle of 2024, compared to previous years, with companies and RTOs (research and technology organisations).
This comes as Europe actually saw the strongest growth in patents in 2024, up 33%, albeit from a lower base than China and the US, which lead in terms of the total number of filed patent applications across Quantum Computing, Communication and Sensing.
The US ranks first in Quantum Computing, largely through the dominance of IBM with 600, with China first in Quantum Communication, although very few of the China-originated patented inventions are extended outside the region.
Europe is ranked third in all three segments, although it is more balanced across all three areas.
“For European companies and RTOs, the situation for number of European patents and patent applications filed with the EPO remains challenging, despite the fact that very strong growth can be observed for patent-related activities in Quantum Technology from European companies and RTOs,” it said.
Europe even ranks second in its own market, with 31 % of European patents and patent applications related to Quantum Technology originating from European companies or RTOs, while the US is ranked first with 46 % of European patents and patent applications filed with the European Patent Office.
To achieve strategic autonomy and leadership in Quantum Technology in Europe, European companies and RTOs need to continue and amplify their efforts in patenting activities, it says.
The consortium recommends more investment by European states and the EU to the benefit of European and/or EU academic institutions, companies and start-ups to achieve an intellectual property portfolio, in particular patents, that is on a par with the US and China
Global quantum patents by organisation
Funding opportunities should promote an ambitious programme related to intellectual property to stimulate the filing of patents related to Quantum Technology at the EPO or at European national offices
This will also need technical assistance regarding patents from European states or the EU to European SMEs and start-ups in Quantum Technology
In quantum computing, the largest filers of patents are Ionq (US), D Wave (CA), Rigetti (US), Quantinuum (US-GB), Origin Quantum Computing (CN), IQM (Finland), PSI Quantum (US), QB information Technologies (CA) and Zappata Computing (US).
Ionq is extending its influence across sectors with the acquisition of quantum networking startup Qubitekk, which has significant patents.
Considering companies from Europe IQM, Bosch, ID Quantique, BT, Atos and Thales are leading in terms of number of patent families. Considering RTOs from Europe, the French CNRS (National Centre for Scientific Research) and the French CEA (Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission) are leading in terms of number of patent families.
In Quantum Communication, BT, Deutsche Telekom, Arqit, ID Quantique, Nokia, QBITEKK, Thales have strong portfolios while in Quantum Sensing, Bosch, Thales, and Quantum Technologies are leading.
A-Portrait-of-The-Global-Patent-Landscape-in-Quantum-Technologies-2025; www.euroquic.org
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