The European Quantum Industry Consortium (QuIC) has published a white paper, A Portrait of the Global Patent Landscape in Quantum Technologies.
The paper provides a clear overview of the current intellectual property (IP) landscape based on an extensive survey of patent applications worldwide and encompasses the three primary areas of quantum technologies: quantum computing, quantum communication, and quantum sensing.
The paper concludes that the quantum technology space for patented inventions is currently dominated by US companies and academic institutions in quantum computing, and by Chinese and Japanese counterparts in quantum communication, though few Chinese patents are extended outside of China. Europe ranks third in terms of inventions filed across the segments of quantum computing, quantum communication, and quantum sensing, although its position in quantum sensing is more balanced compared to the USA and China. The situation for European patents and patent applications is concerning, with Europe holding only 31% of European patents and applications, while the USA leads with 51%. European companies may face challenges if they rely on protected technologies from non-European companies. To achieve strategic autonomy in quantum technologies, European companies and research and technology organisations must improve their standing in terms of European patents and patent applications.
Source:
https://www.euroquic.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/QuIC-White-Paper-IPT-January-2024.pdf
