A new record number of PCT filings was reached in 2013, as the total number of filings surpassed the 200,000 mark for the first time. Approximately 205,300 PCT applications were filed, representing an increase of 5.1% over 2012.

        Among the top 10 PCT filing countries, double-digit growth was seen in 2013 for filings from China (+15%), the United States of America (US) (+10.8%) and Sweden (+10.4%). As in 2012, the top two countries of filing accounted for nearly half of all filings, with 57,239 international applications filed from US, (representing 27.9% of all filings) and 43,918 (21.4%) from Japan. They were followed by China, taking third position for the first time, with 21,516 (10.5%), Germany with 17,927 (8.7%) and the Republic of Korea with 12,386 (6.0%), which, together with US and Japan, accounted for 74.5% of filings. Applicants from the member States of the European Patent Convention, when grouped together, filed 28% of all international applications, a slightly lower share than in 2012 (29%).