Mechanical engineering in a strong position

Mechanical and plant engineering is a key pillar of the German innovation system and accounts for a large proportion of technological output, documented in patents. Overall, around a third of all patents in Germany in 2021 were assigned to the technology field of mechanical and plant engineering. Worldwide, around 70,000 transnational patents are registered annually by entrepreneurs and inventors in the technology field of mechanical and plant engineering. With around 10,000 patents, around 15% of these patents are registered by companies and inventors from Germany. In some areas, such as machine elements or machine tools, Germany's global share is even higher. These are the key findings of a new short study by the IMPULS Foundation of the VDMA, which was compiled by the Fraunhofer Institute for Systems and Innovation Research ISI. (The data series covers the years 2005 to 2021, which are the most recent, fully available years due to the worldwide availability of data and publication deadlines for patents).

Key role in the mechanical engineering ecosystem

For the first time, the study examines not only the technological but also the industry-related perspective of patent applications, i.e. the inventiveness of mechanical engineering companies in an international comparison. According to the study, these companies not only apply for patents in mechanical engineering technologies, but also in other technology areas - a total of 15,000 worldwide in 2021. Here, companies from Germany account for around a third (around 5,000) of applications. "No other country achieves this figure, which underlines the key role of our companies in the global mechanical engineering ecosystem," says Hartmut Rauen, Deputy Managing Director of the VDMA. "Our performance is all the more remarkable in light of the fact that mechanical and plant engineering companies receive hardly any government research funding, recently only around 200 million euros per year."

Dynamic development at key competitors

However, competition on international technology markets has increased significantly. Mechanical engineering patent applications from China in particular have more than doubled since the middle of the last decade (up 138%). Korea's patent applications have also risen by a good quarter since 2015 (up 26%). Meanwhile, patent applications from Germany have declined (-12%), as have those from Japan (-6%) and the USA (-14%).

Increased digitalization opens up new opportunities

The short impulse study shows how patent development in Germany can be given new momentum. "Seizing the opportunities offered by digitalization and developing new business models is a key element in maintaining and expanding the competitiveness of the German mechanical engineering industry," says study director Dr. Rainer Frietsch from Fraunhofer ISI. For example, with an even stronger focus on technologies in the field of Industry 4.0 and computer-implemented inventions. This can be achieved through both in-house research activities and targeted collaborations. Small and medium-sized enterprises should also be more strongly encouraged and enabled to apply for patents for their technologies. "Once a technology has been copied, it is certainly gone if it has not been registered for a patent. Patents stand out as particularly strong among all protection instruments," emphasizes Dr. Frietsch.

More "Research for Industry" as a maxim for the new federal government

Patents are the result of research efforts. They are an important factor in securing the international competitiveness of an economy and safeguarding export markets. "More 'research for industry' must therefore become the maxim of the new federal government," adds Hartmut Rauen. "The levers are clear: further expansion and optimization of the research allowance as well as the strengthening of joint industrial research and production technologies, which are the link between research, innovation and patents," emphasizes the Deputy Managing Director of the VDMA.