(Publ. 9 MAR 2017) The number of granted European patents from Swedish companies increased by 37 percent last year. Sweden is therefore part of the top in Europe.

The European Patent Office, EPO, last year granted 2,661 patent applications from Swedish companies, compared to 1,936 in 2015. This represents an increase of 37 percent and is the highest figure in a decade.

Sweden ranks third in Europe regarding the number of granted European patents per capita, 360 applications per one million inhabitants. Switzerland is in first place with 892, and the Netherlands is in second place with 405 applications. Denmark is in place four and Finland is in fifth place.

Ericsson was, just like the previous years, the Swedish company that applied for the most patents at the EPO.