Mapping

Innovations
Patents and
the Sustainable
Development
Goals
Mapping Innovations
Patents and the
Sustainable
Development
Goals
Contents

Foreword4

Acknowledgments5

Executive summary  6

The state of technology development across the United Nations Sustainable

Development Goals 8

Analyzing the spread of SDG-related technologies 15

Sustainable relevance within technology sectors 15
Sustainable relevance within technology fields 18
Mapping the SDGs to technology areas 20

Global SDG patent trends and considerations 22

Who are the patent applicants driving sustainable innovation? 25

United States 25
Europe29
China32
Japan35
Republic of Korea 38
Exploring the role of academia and research organizations in supporting innovation for
the SDGs 41

Conclusion45

Appendices46
A.1 Data source 46
A.2 Patent-to-SDG mapping methodology 47
A.3 Foreign-oriented patent families (international patent families) 49
A.4 Innovation Maturity Matrix 50
A.5 Relative development of technology areas 51
A.6 Selecting geographical regions for analysis 52

3
Foreword

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are hanging in the balance.
Halfway toward implementing Agenda 2030, only 15% of the goals are on track.
Behind this number stand the world’s most vulnerable people. We must do more, we
must do it together, and we must do it now to create the conditions for countries to
achieve the SDGs.

To deliver this, we need to harness the innovation and creative potential of

humankind, with intellectual property (IP) critical to making this happen. IP
incentivizes innovation, rewards creativity and brings new technologies, ideas and
concepts to the market. All these can help us address common global challenges
like climate change or the next pandemic. That is why this year’s World Intellectual
Property Day 2024 is themed “IP and the SDGs: Building our common future with
innovation and creativity.”

However, there is a challenge in understanding the pathways of innovation. Almost

70% of technology data is captured in patent data, most of which is publicly available,
but is not easy to understand.

This creates an opportunity through patent analytics to transform patent data into
actionable insights that both highlight the trajectory of technological advancement, as
well as measure and track technological progress in areas of interest. Patent analytics
also provides us with a sharper sense of the gaps that exist and points to where more
resources need to be directed into research, development and translation.

It is intended that by presenting an extensive analysis of patents mapped to the

SDGs this report will serve as a guide, illuminating the path forward in a world
where innovation and sustainability go hand in hand. It is hoped that its insights will
also serve as catalysts inspiring stakeholders across industries, governments and
academia to use intellectual property to make a positive difference and truly leave no
one behind.

Daren Tang
Director General, World Intellectual Property Organization

4
Acknowledgments

This publication was prepared under the stewardship of Marco Alemán (Assistant Director
General, IP and Innovation Ecosystems Sector) and under the direction of Alejandro Roca
Campaña (Senior Director, Technology and Innovation Support Division) and Andrew Czajkowski
(Director, Technology and Innovation Support Division), and was led by Christopher Harrison
(Patent Analytics Manager, IP Analytics Section, Technology and Innovation Support Division).

The report was prepared by a project team led by Christopher Harrison that included Marco
Richter, William Mansfield and Dirk Caspary (all from LexisNexis Intellectual Property Solutions),
as well as Hong Kan (Patent Analytics Officer, IP Analytics Section, Technology and Innovation
Support Division) and Lakshmi Supriya (Patent Analytics Officer, IP Analytics Section, Technology
and Innovation Support Division). Additional thanks go to Catherine Jewell (former Senior
Information Officer, Information and Digital Outreach Division), Manuela Ramos Cacciatore
(WIPO Knowledge Center) and Aleksandr Belianov (former Young Expert, Technology and
Innovation Support Division) for their additional support.

Our thanks also go to Matthew Bryan (Director, PCT Legal Division) and Intan Hamdan-
Livramento (Senior Economist, Innovation Economy Section) for reviewing the report and
providing valuable input. Finally, our gratitude to the WIPO editorial and design team led by
Charlotte Beauchamp (Head, Publications and Design Section).

5
Executive summary

This comprehensive report presents an extensive analysis of patents mapped to the

United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). These SDGs, established by
the UN General Assembly in 2015,1 comprise 17 global objectives, with 169 specific
targets2 covering social, economic and environmental issues and offering a blueprint
for global peace and prosperity by 2030.

The patent mapping methodology3 conducted by experts at LexisNexis Intellectual

Property Solutions identified 100 distinct technology categories linked to the
SDGs covering areas such agriculture, medical devices, renewable energy and
transportation. Patent searches were tailored to each technology, employing various
strategies designed to comprehensively cover the outlined scope. The results
provide invaluable insights into the volume of patenting and intellectual property
development trends in areas aligned with the SDGs.

Almost one in three active patent families worldwide (31.4%) are related to the SDGs.
Analysis of patent trends reveals that some SDGs, like for instance SDG 9 Industry,
Innovation and Infrastructure and SDG 13 Climate Action, exhibit substantial
patent alignment, showcasing significant innovation activity. However, certain of the
SDGs focused primarily on socioeconomic aspects have limited patent connections.

The report illustrates the state of technology development across the SDGs
and highlights growth trends in SDG-related patents. Notably, SDG 9 Industry,
Innovation and Infrastructure has the highest number of patents, indicating
diverse technology landscapes within this field. Trends also show an upward growth
in patent activity related to SDG 13 Climate Action and SDG 7 Affordable and Clean
Energy, reflecting an increasing focus on cleaner alternatives to fossil fuels.

A deeper analysis using the WIPO technology concordance table emphasizes

the alignment between specific technology fields and the SDGs. For instance,
environmental technology aligns significantly with SDG 6 Clean Water and
Sanitation and SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production.

The report also explores global patent trends and discusses the significance of
foreign-oriented patents and the impact made by the growth in Chinese patent filings.
The analysis showcases the different routes taken by inventors worldwide in seeking
patent protection for their inventions, highlighting the seeking of international patent
protection through WIPO’s Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), in particular for SDG-
related patents.

1 See https://sdgs.un.org/goals.
2 See, for example, https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal3#targets_and_indicators for the specific targets for
SDG 03 (Good Health and Well-Being).
6 3 See www.lexisnexisip.com/solutions/ip-analytics-and-intelligence/patentsight/sdg.
Examining where in the world inventors are located serves to reveal trends in the origin of
inventions and the patent protection strategies inventors have chosen to adopt, highlighting
 7

variations in where inventions originate and the different approaches taken to patent protection
across the regions. The report concludes by emphasizing the pivotal role played by patent
owners and applicants in driving sustainable innovation across diverse industries, presenting a
breakdown of owners based on where their headquarters are located within five key regions.

Overall, this report sheds light on the intersection of the UN SDGs and global patent activity,
providing crucial insights into the importance of intellectual property in advancing global
sustainability efforts. It provides both a quantifiable measure of the intellectual capital
being invested into each goal and a tangible testament to the commitment to sustainable
development within the global innovation landscape.

As we navigate the complex interplay between technological advancement and global

sustainability, SDG-to-patent mapping functions as a beacon guiding us toward a more
informed and strategic approach to innovation. It empowers decision-makers, policymakers and
innovators to make data-driven choices, allocate resources effectively, and foster collaboration
in those areas where inventive contributions are most needed.

Executive summary
The state of technology
development across the
United Nations Sustainable
Development Goals

There are over 15.2 million active patent families 4 worldwide and over 4.7 million
of these (31.4%) relate to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Figure 1
illustrates the current number of active patent families associated with each of the
17 SDGs that cover relevant technologies. Patent families refer to a collection of
patents filed across different geographical regions that cover the same invention. This
grouping prevents counting the same invention multiple times.

Figure 1 Number of active patent families associated with each of the 17 SDGs

13 out of the 17 SDGs are represented by patents, with SDG 9 Industry, Innovation and
Infrastructure having the most patents.
and Infrastructure
Industry, Innovation
SDG 9: 2,916,489

Note: SDGs 8, 10, 16 and 17 are not mapped to patents because they primarily address socioeconomic rather
than technological goals.
Source: WIPO, based on patent data from PatentSight, January 2024.

4 An active patent family comprises at least one pending published patent application or a granted patent
8 that is not lapsed and has not been withdrawn, invalidated nor rejected at the respective date.
WIPO FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Why patents are an ideal measure of business sustainability?  9

A patent requires the disclosure of the technology for which protection is sought, and patent
applications are often published many years before the corresponding commercial products hit
the market. Patent data therefore offers a unique window into the research and development
(R&D) efforts and future products of companies. This makes metrics based on patent data
objective and forward-looking. Patent data can therefore also provide invaluable insights
into global innovation trends, while the patents themselves offer insight into how firms are
investing in SDG-related inventions.

SDG 9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure leads among the SDGs in having the highest
number of patents, showcasing the expansive scope of the SDGs, and the diverse technology
landscape within this particular field. SDG 9 encompasses electronics, manufacturing
and materials. These three broad technology areas are heavily patented and thus feature
prominently in the analysis.

SDG 13 Climate Action is largely driven by technologies aimed at curbing greenhouse

gas emissions, while SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy benefits from advancements in
renewable energy sources like solar and wind power. SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and
Production depends on innovations in sustainable products and production methods. SDG 3
Good Health and Well-Being also boasts numerous medical innovations that align strongly
with the UN SDGs. However, despite its alignment, SDG 3’s contribution is comparatively smaller,
not because of its relevance to the SDGs but because of the fewer number of patents filed for
medical innovations compared to areas such as electronics.5

It is important to note that four out of the 17 goals – SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic
Growth, SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities, SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, and
SDG 17 Partnerships for the Goals – do not map appreciably to patent data, as they primarily
address socioeconomic developments rather than technological aspects.

Some areas have very limited mappings to patent data. SDG 1 No Poverty, for example, is
driven primarily by the inclusion of “blockchain” technology within this particular SDG. Indeed,
blockchain notably features across multiple SDGs, as detailed in UN briefing notes.6 These
notes underscore this fact, summarizing the overall impact of blockchain on the SDGs and its
influence on various SDGs. They also highlight blockchain’s potential impact with respect to
“the facilitation of trade transactions and access to global value chains, especially for small
businesses in developing and transition economies, as well as for the provision of effective
government services that support more inclusive economic and social progress.”

The state of technology development across the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
Blockchain stands out among a handful of technologies aligned with multiple SDGs, contributing
significantly to the intersections observed among the goals. As a consequence, when
reconciling the number of patent families corresponding to individual SDGs, the cumulative
count appears higher than the actual count of distinct patent families related to SDGs because
of this overlapping.

5 See Appendix A.5 for further details on the varying propensity to patent across different technology fields.
6 See UN (2018). Briefing note on Blockchain for the United Nations Social Development Goals. United Nations,
Economic and Social Council. Available at: https://unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/cefact/cf_plenary/2018_plenary/
ECE_TRADE_C_CEFACT_2018_25E.pdf.
 10 Figure 2 Number of global SDG-related active patent families (largest to
smallest), 2000–2023

Across the board, the number of patents related to each SDG has shown a significant upward trend
over the past two decades.

SDG 9: Industry, SDG 13: SDG 3: Good Health SDG 12:

Innovation and Climate Action and Well-Being Responsible
Infrastructure Consumption and
Production
3M 1.2M 1.2M 980K

1.5M 600K 600K 490K

0 0 0 0
2000 2023

SDG 7: Affordable and SDG 11: SDG 2: Zero Hunger SDG 6: Clean Water
Clean Energy Sustainable Cities and and Sanitation
Communities
900K 500K 440K 280K

450K 250K 220K 140K

0 0 0 0
2000 2023

SDG 4: Quality SDG 14: SDG 1: No Poverty SDG 15:

Education Life Below Water Life on Land
180K 160K 120K 82,000

90K 80K 60K 41,000

0 0 0 0
2000 2023

SDG 5: Gender Equality

22,000
Mapping Innovations Patents and the Sustainable Development Goals

11,000

0
2000 2023

Note: SDGs 8, 10, 16 and 17 are not mapped to patents because they primarily address socioeconomic rather than
technological goals.
Source: WIPO, based on patent data from PatentSight, January 2024.

Figure 2 illustrates the growth of patent families related to the SDGs from 2000 to 2023. The
line highlighted in color in each graph represents the respective SDG. The gray lines in the
background depict the changes within other SDGs. Juxtaposing the highlighted line with the gray
lines assists in comparing the patenting activity of the highlighted SDG to that of other SDGs.
The quantity of patents related to the SDGs reflects the scale of ongoing innovation in these areas.
However, innovation is about change. And the SDGs are a framework guiding change in specific
 11

areas. Therefore, assessing the rate of innovation within the different SDG areas is crucial.

Figure 3 shows the share of all global active patents attributed to the SDGs over the past two
decades. Many SDGs exhibit a noticeable upward trend in related patents, signaling not only
a growth in related patents but also an increasing share among all patents. Which is to say, in
many cases the SDG-related patent activity is surpassing general patent growth.

Figure 3 Share of global active patent families attributed to each SDG (largest to
smallest), 2000–2023

SDG 9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure has the most patents but has also grown substantially
over the past 20 years, from under 10% to about 20% of all active patents globally. SDG 13 Climate
Action and SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy also show stronger upward trends compared to most
other SDGs.

SDG 9: Industry, SDG 13: SDG 3: Good Health SDG 12:

Innovation and Climate Action and Well-Being Responsible
Infrastructure Consumption and
Production
20%

10

2000 2023

SDG 7: Affordable and SDG 11: SDG 2: Zero Hunger SDG 6: Clean Water
Clean Energy Sustainable Cities and Sanitation
and Communities
20%

10

2000 2023

The state of technology development across the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
SDG 4: Quality Education SDG 14: SDG 1: No Poverty SDG 15:
Life Below Water Life on Land
20%

10

2000 2023

SDG 5: Gender Equality

20%

10

2000 2023

Note: SDGs 8, 10, 16 and 17 are not mapped to patents because they primarily address socioeconomic rather than
technological goals. Each highlighted colored line represents the respective SDG, the gray lines in the background depict
the changes within other SDGs.
Source: WIPO, based on patent data from PatentSight, January 2024.
 12 SDG 9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure is notably the largest field, witnessing
substantial recent growth from under 10% to about 20% of all active patents globally. This SDG
encompasses advanced manufacturing materials and methods known for their potential to
revolutionize various sectors, thus driving strong innovation and patenting activity.

SDG 13 Climate Action, focusing on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and SDG 7 Affordable
and Clean Energy, centered on renewable energy, both show a slightly stronger upward trend
compared to most other SDGs. This reflects a growing awareness of and consumer preference
for cleaner alternatives.7 It is worth noting here that while so-called “green technologies” are an
integral part of the SDGs they are not the sole focus. Other critical areas such as health, poverty
and equality are equally significant.

The relative technological maturity of each SDG seen from a patent perspective can be assessed
using an Innovation Maturity Matrix. This categorizes all SDG-related patent families according
to their respective SDGs alongside their respective recency, that is, a measure of how recently
the SDG-related patent applications in question were filed.8

Figure 4 shows the Innovation Maturity Matrix for SDG-related patents filed since 2000. Reflecting
trends also seen in Figures 2 and 3, the Innovation Maturity Matrix highlights SDG 9 Industry,
Innovation and Infrastructure, SDG 13 Climate Action, SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy,
and SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production as current hot topics, meaning they all
have a large number of patents and have recorded strong growth in recent years.

In comparison, the number of patent families related to SDG 1 No Poverty, SDG 4 Quality
Education, SDG 6 Clean Water and Sanitation, SDG 14 Life Below Water and SDG 15 Life on
Land is smaller but an emerging interest can be seen in the recent growth in patenting activity
related to these five SDGs. Whereas this is difficult to detect in Figure 3, it is more clearly visible
in the Innovation Maturity Matrix.
Mapping Innovations Patents and the Sustainable Development Goals

7 See McKinsey & Company (2023). Consumers care about sustainability – and back it up with their wallets.
Online, February 6. Available at: www.mckinsey.com/industries/consumer-packaged-goods/our-insights/
consumers-care-about-sustainability-and-back-it-up-with-their-wallets.
8 See Appendix A.4 for details on the methodology used.
Figure 4 Innovation Maturity Matrix for SDG-related patent families, 2000–2023  13

Although the number of patents related to SDG 1 No Poverty, SDG 4 Quality Education, SDG 6 Clean
Water and Sanitation, SDG 14 Life Below Water, and SDG 15 Life on Land is relatively small, recent
patent activities associated with these SDGs have been on the rise, indicating increasing attention to
these SDGs.

100M
Innovation
intensity

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation

and Infrastructure

Mature sectors Current hot

10M SDG 3: Good Health and
topics
Well-Being

SDG 13: Climate Action

SDG 12: Responsible
Consumption and Production
SDG 7: Affordable and
SDG 11: Sustainable Clean Energy
Cities and Communities

1M SDG 2: Zero Hunger

SDG 14: Life Below

SDG 6: Clean Water and Water
Sanitation
SDG 1: No Poverty
SDG 4:
Quality
SDG 15: Life on Land Education

100K Modest Emerging

development interest

SDG 5: Gender Equality

The state of technology development across the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals
Relative recency
10K
0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4

SDG 1: No Poverty SDG 2: Zero Hunger SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being SDG 4:
Quality Education SDG 5: Gender Equality SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation SDG 7:
Affordable and Clean Energy SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure SDG 11:
Sustainable Cities and Communities SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
SDG 13: Climate Action SDG 14: Life Below Water SDG 15: Life on Land

Note: Relative recency and innovation intensity are calculated on the annual volume of patent applications. SDGs 8, 10, 16
and 17 are not mapped to patents because they primarily address socioeconomic rather than technological goals.
Source: WIPO, based on patent data from PatentSight, January 2024.

Diving deeper into the mapping of SDGs and patents shown in Figure 5, it becomes evident that
there are certain overlaps. For example, “Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction” is present in
both SDG 9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure (depicted in orange) and SDG 13 Climate
Action (in dark green).
 14 A distinct contrast emerges in the scope and number of technologies encompassed by SDG 9
and SDG 3. SDG 9 contains fewer but larger technology areas, whereas SDG 3 comprises
numerous smaller, discrete medical innovations such as treatments for cancer or hepatitis.
SDG 9 covers broader topic areas with high-level targeted outcomes that might have multiple
potential solutions and more patent activity. For example, upgrading infrastructure and
retrofitting industries to make them sustainable, with increased resource-use efficiency and
greater adoption of clean and environmentally friendly technologies and industrial processes.9
Policy documents published by UN agencies shed light on the technologies encompassed by this
target, ranging from 3D printing to reducing greenhouse gas emissions in industrial processes.10

Figure 5 Exploring the 100 SDG-linked technologies

Each SDG encompasses a variety of technologies aimed at achieving the respective goal, although
there is some overlap with, for example, “Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction” appearing in both
SDG 9, Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure and SDG 13, Climate Action.

Impr… Wind Bio…

Energy S…

En…
Electric Solar
Vehicles Energy
S…
H…

Internet Blo…
Blo… of Alt…
Things F…
Sustainable S…
Products
S… and Method Water … Food
of Production
and Biot…

Production Security

Su…
Internet
of
Things Blo…
Resource
Efficiency Sustainable
Road Sustai…
Cyb…
Transport
Su… Chr… Wat…
Blo…
C…

Greenhouse Digital
Gas Emission Advanced
Health Cancer
Manufacturing
Reduction
Internet
of
D… Things Ai…

Internet
Advanced
Blo… of
Things
Smart Materials
Factory
W…

Greenhouse
Water … F…

Gas Emission S…
Natu… Cyb…
Reduction
Assistive
Mapping Innovations Patents and the Sustainable Development Goals

Technology Internet
and of
Medical Things
Prosthetics

Resilient
Building

Blo…

Note: Circle size is proportional to number of active patent families. SDGs 8, 10, 16 and 17 are not mapped to patents
because they primarily address socioeconomic rather than technological goals.
Source: WIPO, based on patent data from PatentSight, January 2024.

9 See target 9.4 of SDG 9, available at: https://sdgs.un.org/goals/goal9#targets_and_indicators.

10 UNIDO (2017). Industry 4.0: Opportunities Behind the Challenge. Background Paper, UNIDO General Conference 17,
November 27–December 1, 2017. Vienna: United Nations Industrial Development Organization. Available at: www.unido.
org/sites/default/files/files/2020-06/UNIDO%20Background%20Paper%20on%20Industry%204.0_FINAL_TII.pdf.
Analyzing the spread of
SDG-related technologies

WIPO has created a comprehensive technology concordance table crucial for an extensive analysis.
It includes regional structures and international comparisons to identify areas of specialization.
This technology concordance table11 is based on the International Patent Classification (IPC) system,
a highly detailed system of technology classification applied to almost all patents by intellectual
property (IP) offices worldwide. The WIPO PCT system comprises 35 technology fields, grouped into
five higher level technology sectors, namely, Electrical engineering, Instruments, Chemistry,
Mechanical engineering, and Other fields.

Sustainable relevance within technology sectors

Figure 6 shows the development over time of SDG-related patents within the five higher level
technology sectors. The trend shown mirrors the breakdown by SDG seen in Figures 2 and 3,
This is because both analyses use the same data but organized differently, that is, by SDG or by
WIPO technology sector. As mentioned in the previous section, the substantial relative increase
shown hides a significant growth in the number of patents overall, which the SDG-related
patents are still managing to meaningfully outpace.

Chemistry dominates the share of SDG-related patents, encompassing pharmaceuticals and

innovations that enhance processes vital for fields such as greenhouse gas emissions reduction.
Mechanical engineering and Instruments, including medical devices, also exhibit a similar
trend. Electrical engineering and the Other fields sectors also display comparable trends,
albeit from a lower base. However, in recent years, Electrical engineering has surged at a
faster pace than the others.

11 See, IPC – Technology Concordance, downloadable at: www.wipo.int/ipstats/en/docs/ipc_technology.xlsx; for the

methodology see, Schmoch, U. (2008). Concept of a Technology Classification for Country Comparisons: Final Report
to the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO). WIPO, available at: www.wipo.int/export/sites/www/ipstats/
en/docs/wipo_ipc_technology.pdf. 15
 16 Figure 6 Number and share of SDG-related active patent families in each of the five higher
level WIPO technology sectors, 2000–2023

Chemistry dominates the share of SDG-related patents. Electrical engineering has surged at a faster
pace than the other sectors.

Number of SDG-related active patent families Share of SDG-related active patent families (%)

01–Electrical 50
engineering
03–Chemistry
03–Chemistry

1,500,000
04–Mechanical 40
engineering
04–Mechanical
engineering

02–Instruments
02–Instruments 30
1,000,000 01–Electrical
engineering
05–Other fields

20

500,000
05–Other fields
10

0 0
2000 2008 2015 2023 2000 2008 2015 2023
Reporting year Reporting year
01–Electrical engineering 02–Instruments 03–Chemistry 04–Mechanical engineering 05–Other fields

Source: WIPO, based on patent data from PatentSight, January 2024.

Mapping Innovations Patents and the Sustainable Development Goals
Figure 7 illustrates the share of SDG-related patents within the five higher level technology
sectors (horizontal axis), aligned with the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of the share
 17

of SDG-related patents between 2018 and 2023 (vertical axis). CAGR is used instead of annual
growth rate because it assumes that the growth rate is repeated (i.e., “compounded”) each year,
whereas a traditional growth rate does not. CAGR is preferred for patent analysis because it
smooths out the volatile nature of year-by-year growth rates.

Figure 7 Comparing the share of SDG-related active patent families in each of

the five higher level WIPO technology sectors to the compound annual growth
rate (CAGR), 2018–2023

Electrical engineering shows a noticeable recent surge at around 12% CAGR, compared to
approximately 8% for most other sectors. Chemistry displays a recent slowdown at just over 4% but
this is due to a larger base and therefore limited growth potential.

2,000,000
800,000 Number of SDG-related active
200,000 patent families

15
CAGR of SDG-
share, 2018-2023
(%)
01–Electrical
engineering

10

02–Instruments
05–Other
fields

04–Mechanical
engineering

03–Chemistry

Share of SDG-
related patent
families in the
technology
sector (%)
0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60

Source: WIPO, based on patent data from PatentSight, January 2024.

Analyzing the spread of SDG-related technologies

Electrical engineering shows a noticeable recent surge at around 12% CAGR, compared to
approximately 8% for most other sectors. Chemistry displays a recent slowdown at just over
4%. Higher shares of SDG-related patents typically result in a lower CAGR, there being more
limited headroom for them to grow.

The WIPO technology sectors are fairly evenly split in size, aligning with one of the design
requirements for a WIPO technology sector. This balance reinforces the significance of a
difference in shares, thereby reducing possible outliers (e.g., extreme percentages) stemming
from smaller fields.
 18 Sustainable relevance within technology fields

The 35 WIPO technology fields are subdivisions of the WIPO technology sectors, providing more
fine detail. They are categorized as follows: 1–8 in Electrical engineering, 9–13 in Instruments,
14–24 in Chemistry, 25–32 in Mechanical engineering, and 33–35 in Other fields.

Figure 8 Share of SDG-related active patent families in WIPO technology fields, 2000–2023

Environmental technology holds the largest share of SDG-related patents at about 75%.
Biotechnology and Pharmaceuticals have been competing for the second and third positions for
many years with consistent annual increases, but by 2018 both were overtaken by Micro-structural
and nano-technology, which has seen significant growth.

80 Share of SDG-related active

patent families (%) 24–Environmental
technology

22–Micro-structural
15–Biotechnology and nano-technology

60

16–Pharmaceuticals

40 18–Food chemistry

19–Basic materials
chemistry

07–IT methods for

management
20

06–Computer technology

Reporting year
0
Mapping Innovations Patents and the Sustainable Development Goals

2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022

Source: WIPO, based on patent data from PatentSight, January 2024.

Figure 8 illustrates the progression over time of active SDG-related patent families, segmented by
the 35 technology fields, highlighting specific fields of interest. Environmental technology aligns
well with its description and holds the largest share of SDG-related patents at about 75%. While this
share has stabilized recently, this trend often occurs when very high shares are achieved.

For many years Biotechnology and Pharmaceuticals battled for second and third spot, with
consistent annual increases. However, by 2018 both were overtaken by Micro-structural
and nano-technology, which has seen significant growth from around 25% in 2000 to nearly
65% in 2023. This aligns closely with certain SDG technologies, particularly with respect to the
modernization of industrial processes.
Food chemistry shows a noticeable increase followed by a recent dip. Basic materials
chemistry has plateaued, stabilizing at around 40%, after an increasing trend up until
 19

approximately 2017. Finally, IT methods for management and Computer technology exhibit
lower shares but rapidly increasing growth rates.

Figure 9 is the same as described for Figure 7. It highlights the high growth rates of IT methods
for management and Computer technology at the top of the graphic and the negative or
static growth of Food chemistry and Basic materials chemistry at the bottom.

Figure 9 Comparing the share of SDG-related active patent families in each WIPO
technology field to the compound annual growth rate (CAGR), 2018–2023

IT methods for management and Computer technology demonstrate higher growth rates, while
Food chemistry and Basic materials chemistry have experienced negative or stagnant growth.
Environmental technology, Microstructural and nano-technology, and Pharmaceuticals all have
lower growth rates because they are progressing towards 100%.

700K
Number of SDG-related active
70K patent families

25
CAGR of SDG-
share, 2018–
2023 (%)

20 07–IT
06–Computer methods
technology for management

15

04–Digital
communication

33–Furniture,
10 games 32–Transport 22–Micro-
structural
01–Electrical and nano-
machinery, technology 24–Environmental
apparatus, technology
energy
5

08–Semiconductors
09–Optics 16–Pharmaceuticals
0 Share of SDG-
19–Basic related patent
materials 18–Food families in the
chemistry chemistry
technology

−5
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

Source: WIPO, based on patent data from PatentSight, January 2024.

With more detailed data points than the technology sectors, the partial correlation between
share and CAGR for the technology fields becomes more visible. Smaller shares can more
Analyzing the spread of SDG-related technologies

easily exhibit a high CAGR, while larger shares often have a lower CAGR. Therefore, the lower
growth rates for Environmental technology, Micro-structural and nano-technology, and
Pharmaceuticals should not be perceived negatively; rather, their positive growth, progressing
towards 100%, is very impressive.
 20 Mapping the SDGs to technology areas

Building on this further, Figure 10 indicates the share each WIPO technology sector has and the
WIPO technology field associated with specific SDGs.

At the technology sector level, the Instruments sector correlates 12.3% of its patents with
SDG 3 Good Health and Well-Being. Instruments includes medical devices, so a higher
overlap between this sector and SDG 3 is to be expected. This is also the case for the Chemistry
sector, which includes Pharmaceuticals, showing a higher overlap with relevant SDGs. Larger
SDG categories, such as SDG 9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, are readily visible
owing to their larger size, commanding a more substantial share.

Looking at the more granular technology field level, larger SDGs such as SDG 9 Industry,
Innovation and Infrastructure and SDG 3 Good Health and Well-Being are clearly
highlighted. The connection between SDG 3 and Pharmaceuticals and other biological and
medical fields becomes clearer owing to the finer detail provided by the WIPO technology fields.
Similarly, SDG 2 Zero Hunger aligns significantly with Food chemistry, SDG 6 Clean Water
and Sanitation and SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production with Environmental
technology, and SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities with Civil engineering.
Mapping Innovations Patents and the Sustainable Development Goals
Figure 10 Comparing the share of SDG-related active patent families as a proportion of
the total of each WIPO technology field
 21

The Instruments and Chemistry sectors show a high overlap with SDG 3 Good Health and Well-Being.
Food chemistry closely correlates with SDG 2 Zero Hunger, while Environmental technology aligns
significantly with SDG 6 Clean Water and Sanitation and SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and
Production, and Civil engineering with SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities.

Electrical engineering

All Electrical engineering

01 –Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy
02 –Audio-visual technology
03 –Telecommunications
04 –Digital communication
05 –Basic communication processes
06 –Computer technology
07 –IT methods for management
08 –Semiconductors
0% 20% 40% 60%
Instruments
All Instruments
09 –Optics
10 –Measurement
11 –Analysis of biological materials
12 –Control
13 –Medical technology
0% 20% 40% 60%
Chemistry
15 –Biotechnology and 16 –
All Chemistry Pharmaceutical has a close connection
14 –Organic fine chemistry with SDG 03 Good Health and Wellbeing
15 –Biotechnology
16 –Pharmaceuticals
17 –Macromolecular chemistry, polymers
18 –Food chemistry
19 –Basic materials chemistry
SDG 02 Zero Hunger
20 –Materials, metallurgy aligns significantly with
21 –Surface technology, coating 18 –Food chemistry
22 –Micro-structural and nano-technology
23 –Chemical engineering
24 –Environmental technology
0% 20% 40% 60%
Mechanical engineering 24 –Environmental technology
aligns significantly with SDG 06
All Mechanical engineering Clean Water and Sanitation and
25 –Handling SDG 12 Responsible Consumption
26 –Machine tools and Production
27 –Engines, pumps, turbines
28 –Textile and paper machines
29 –Other special machines
30 –Thermal processes and apparatus
31 –Mechanical elements
32 –Transport
0% 20% 40% 60%
Other fields
All Other fields
33 –Furniture, games
Analyzing the spread of SDG-related technologies

SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities

34 –Other consumer goods aligns closely with 35 –Civil engineering
35 –Civil engineering
0% 20% 40% 60%
SDG 1: No Poverty SDG 2: Zero Hunger SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being
SDG 4: Quality Education SDG 5: Gender Equality SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure
SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production
SDG 13: Climate Action SDG 14: Life Below Water SDG 15: Life on Land

Note: SDGs 8, 10, 16 and 17 are not mapped to patents because they primarily address socioeconomic rather than
technological goals.
Source: WIPO, based on patent data from PatentSight, January 2024.
Global SDG patent trends
and considerations

As discussed earlier, 31.4% of all active patent families worldwide are related to the UN
SDGs. The Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) administered by WIPO is a more popular
route for SDG-related patents, with 35.4% of active PCT patents being related to the
SDGs. Similarly, European patents filed through the European Patent Office (EPO) are
popular for SDG-related inventions, with 42.4% of active European patents being related
to the SDGs. This contrasts with 34.3% for the Republic of Korea, 33.7% for China,
32.8% for the United States of America (US), and 25.9% for Japan. There appears to be a
preference for SDG-related patents to be filed through international and regional (multi-
jurisdictional) routes to protection instead of through direct national filings.

In prior sections, the substantial and continuously growing number of patents has
been highlighted. Academic research widely acknowledges that there is a highly
skewed distribution in the value of patents,12 with just a few patents providing the vast
majority of the overall value to their owners. In the following sections, the analysis
distinguishes foreign-oriented patent families – also referred to as international
patent families13 – from domestic-only ones.

International patent families concern those inventions for which the applicant has
sought patent protection beyond its domestic/national IP office. International patent
families are a reliable and neutral proxy for inventive activity because they provide
a degree of control for patent quality and value by only representing inventions
deemed important enough by the applicant to seek protection internationally. They
create a population of patent families that are sufficiently homogeneous to be directly
compared with one another, thereby reducing the national biases that often arise
when comparing patent applications across different national patent offices.

Analysis by international patent families was not undertaken for the previous sections
because they cover technologies where results are not significantly impacted. But it
is undertaken for the following sections covering geographical regions and owners
because this is where the results are highly impacted.

Figure 11 illustrates the geographical growth in SDG-related international patent

families based on where a patent is being protected (active authority). Europe includes
filings to the EPO and national patent office filings within geographical Europe,
but without duplication because only one record per international patent family is
counted. China’s exponential increase in patents becomes evident, moving from being
bottom of the five selected countries/regions to very nearly second place in 2023.
There have been noticeable increases from all areas, with Japan’s being a modest
increase and US growth almost matching that of China.

12 Gambardella, A., D. Harhoff and B. Verspagen (2008). The value of European patents. European
Management Review, 5, 69–84. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/emr.2008.10.
13 Dechezleprêtre, A., Ménière, Y. and Mohnen, M. (2017). International patent families: From application
strategies to statistical indicators. Scientometrics, 111, 793–828. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/
22 s11192-017-2311-4.
Figure 11 Comparing the absolute number and share of SDG-related active international
patent families by geographical patent coverage (active filing authority), 2000–2023
 23

China has experienced exponential growth in the number of SDG-related patents. The growth rate in
the United States nearly matches that of China, whereas Japan has seen only modest growth.

Number of SDG-related active international Share of SDG-related active international patent

patent families families (%)
Europe
US 40 Republic of
Korea
800,000 US
Japan

Europe 30 China

600,000 China

20
Japan
400,000

Republic of
Korea

10
200,000

0 0
2000 2008 2015 2023 2000 2008 2015 2023
Reporting year Reporting year

US Europe China Japan Republic of Korea

Source: WIPO, based on patent data from PatentSight, January 2024.

The share of SDG-related patents is quite consistent across authorities, ranging from 34% to
38% in 2023. Europe shows the fastest rate of growth, whereas for China the increase remains
below average compared to other regions. There was even a decrease in China’s share between
2001 and 2005; however, this is primarily due to the percentage being calculated from a smaller
number of patents before the rapid growth of overall patent filings seen in China since 2011. If
these trends persist, there might be a shift in the distribution among regions in the future.

The question of where inventors are located is equally as important as in which markets they
seek protection for their inventions. Figure 12 depicts trends based on inventor location. Europe,
Japan, and the United States demonstrate similar trends in invention origin, albeit at a higher
level for the United States. The number of inventions originating from China-based inventors
are lower here compared to those choosing to protect in China, primarily because of a limited
internationalization of patents originating in China. Nevertheless, China displays a strong
upward trajectory in recent years in contrast to the leveling off seen in most other regions.

Regarding the share of patents related to SDGs, the downward trend from China is more
prominent, with only a recent increase. Other regions follow a similar trend to each other, with
Global SDG patent trends and considerations

Japan’s SDG patent share increasing more slowly, leading to a divergence over time.
 24 Figure 12 Comparing the absolute number and share of SDG-related active international
patent families by inventor location, 2000–2023

Europe, Japan, and the United States demonstrate similar trends in invention origin, with the United
States exhibiting a higher level. The number of international patent families originating from China-
based inventors is relatively low, but has shown a strong upward trend recently.

Number of SDG-related active international Share of SDG-related active international patent

patent families families (%)
400,000
US

Europe 40 US
Europe

300,000 Republic of
Korea
China
Japan 30
Japan

200,000
20
China

Republic of
Korea

100,000
10

0 0
2000 2008 2015 2023 2000 2008 2015 2023

Reporting year Reporting year

US Europe China Japan Republic of Korea

Source: WIPO, based on patent data from PatentSight, January 2024.

Mapping Innovations Patents and the Sustainable Development Goals
Who are the patent applicants
driving sustainable innovation?

The development of technology, its protection, the crucial markets, and the major R&D regions
are all vital aspects in patent-led innovation. But the true impetus behind innovation lies
with applicants and patent owners. While numerous organizations across industries support
sustainable innovation, their comprehensive representation exceeds the scope of this study.
To provide a complete picture, the next section categorizes patent owners according to where
their headquarters are located within the five regions previously discussed, namely, the United
States, Europe, China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea. These regions were selected because
they have the highest concentration of inventors, as well as being markets with the most patent
filing activity, and accounting for 96 of the top 100 patent owners worldwide based on the
number of SDG-related international patent families.

The analysis within this section provides an overview of the top 25 patent owners within
each region based on the number of SDG-related international patent families, as well as a
comparison of their share of SDG-related patents alongside their CAGR.

United States

The most prominent SDG-related patent owners in the United States include General Electric,
Ford, Qualcomm, RTX Corp, Johnson & Johnson, and General Motors (Figure 13). While each of
these entities experienced significant growth in their SDG-related patents over the past two
decades, most have witnessed a slow-down in their upward trend, with General Motors even
seeing a recent decline. Qualcomm stands out as the only player among the top few whose
patenting activity is not leveling off, with its upward trajectory starting only very recently.
However, all these top players maintain a significantly higher number of SDG-related patents
compared to others within the top 25 patent owners.

25
 26 Figure 13 Top 25 patent owners from the United States based on number of SDG-related
active international patent families, 2000–2023

The top SDG-related patent owners in the United States have experienced significant growth in
their SDG-related patents over the past two decades, but the upward trend for most entities is
slowing down.

10,000 Number of SDG-related

active international
patent families
9,000
General Electric

8,000

7,000

6,000
RTX
Corp
Johnson & Johnson
5,000
Ford
Qualcomm
4,000

General
3,000 Motors

2,000

1,000

Reporting year
0
2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022

Source: WIPO, based on patent data from PatentSight, January 2024.

Mapping Innovations Patents and the Sustainable Development Goals
Figure 14 Comparing the top 25 patent owners from the United States by share of SDG-
related patents and compound annual growth rate (CAGR), 2018–2023
 27

Among the major patent owners in the United States, Qualcomm exhibits the highest growth rate, at
approximately 10%. Around 70% of the Government of the United States patent portfolio aligns with
SDGs, similar to the University of California.

10,000 Number of SDG-related active

1,000 international patent families

12
CAGR of SDG-
share, 2018-2023
(%)
Qualcomm

IBM
HP Inc.
6

Alphabet

Intel General
3M Electric
Boeing
University
RTX Corp of California

Microsoft Deere & Co

0 Apple
General Government Merck & Co
Motors of the
P&G Dow Inc Ford United
States
Applied Boston Share of SDG-
Materials Scientific related patent
families in
owner’s entire
portfolio (%)
−6
10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

Source: WIPO, based on patent data from PatentSight, January 2024.

Qualcomm notably exhibits a growth rate around 10%, outperforming the majority of the
pack, which hover around 2% (Figure 14). Other tech giants like IBM, HP, Alphabet (Google),
and Intel show a similar albeit slightly lower growth rate. These companies delve into various
technologies aligned with the SDGs, albeit not their core focus, such as elements of autonomous
driving, blockchain and digital health contributing to their patent portfolios.
Who are the patent applicants driving sustainable innovation?

The US Government is among the top 25 patent owners, holding patents primarily in health-
related innovations from the US Health Department and advancements in materials and
processing from the Navy, Army, and Air Force. Around 70% of the US Government’s portfolio
aligns with the SDGs, similar to the University of California, while Merck & Co holds the largest
share owing to its contributions to medical advancements.

Despite the alignment of medical and pharmaceutical innovations with the SDGs, there are few
pharmaceutical or drug companies among the top 25, largely because the selection is based
on the absolute number of SDG-related patents (Table 1). In a field such as pharmaceuticals
companies file relatively fewer patents to protect their innovations compared to the electronics
or automotive industries.14

14 See Appendix A.5 for further details on the varying propensity to patent across different technology fields.
 28 Table 1 Top 25 patent owners from the United States based on number of SDG-related
active international patent families, 2000–2023

Share of SDG-related
SDG-related active patent families
international patent in owner’s entire CAGR of SDG-share,
Patent owner families portfolio (%) 2018–2023 (%)
General Electric 9,723 58 1.7
Ford 9,177 56 –0.7
Qualcomm 8,422 30 10.0
RTX Corp 7,314 35 0.7
Johnson & Johnson 7,222 60 –0.8
General Motors 6,297 53 –0.4
Microsoft 4,374 25 0.3
Boeing 3,950 49 1.6
Intel 3,797 22 3.0
Honeywell 3,473 39 1.4
Alphabet 3,463 27 5.1
University of California 3,456 68 0.8
3M 2,966 41 2.0
IBM 2,832 28 7.4
Halliburton 2,727 36 –0.1
Dow Inc 2,620 40 –0.7
Apple 2,421 21 0.1
Boston Scientific 2,294 49 –2.2
Applied Materials 2,147 30 –2.2
Merck & Co 2,118 77 0.1
P&G 2,106 35 –0.8
Government of the United States 2,093 68 0.1
HP Inc. 2,090 19 6.3
Exxon Mobil 2,047 59 1.0
Deere & Co 1,995 40 0.4

Note: CAGR is the compound annual growth rate.

Source: WIPO, based on patent data from PatentSight, January 2024.
Mapping Innovations Patents and the Sustainable Development Goals
Europe  29

In Europe, Bosch and the VW Group lead the pack with strong and sustained positive innovation
momentum (Figure 15). Siemens, while noticeable in the analysis, has experienced limited
growth since around 2012 and was recently overtaken by the VW Group. However, Siemens
maintains a positive growth rate for its share of SDG-related patents, exceeding 50%, placing it
among the higher ranking entities within the top 25 patent owners. Siemens Energy, a recent
spin-out from Siemens’ wind energy division, also exhibits remarkable growth and has a
significant share among the top 25 patent owners (Figure 16).

Figure 15 Top 25 patent owners from Europe based on number of SDG-related active
international patent families, 2000–2023

In Europe, Bosch and VW Group are leading the pack with strong and sustained momentum in SDG-
related innovation, whereas Siemens’ growth has leveled off in recent years.

12,000 Number of SDG-related

active international Bosch
11,000 patent families

10,000

Siemens
9,000

8,000

7,000
VW Group
6,000

5,000

4,000

3,000

2,000

1,000

Reporting year
0
2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022

Source: WIPO, based on patent data from PatentSight, January 2024.

Who are the patent applicants driving sustainable innovation?
 30 Figure 16 Comparing the top 25 patent owners from Europe by share of SDG-related
patents and compound annual growth rate (CAGR), 2018–2023

Among these top owners, there is a significant disparity in the share of SDG-related patents, ranging
from 16% to 71%. Bayer holds the highest share, followed by Roche.

10,000 Number of SDG-related active

1,000 international patent families

6
CAGR of SDG-
share, 2018-2023
(%) Ericsson

ABB

3 Nokia
Rolls-Royce Siemens
Energy

ZF
Siemens
Bosch
Safran
VW Group
Philips

0 Fraunhofer
Valeo
CNRS
Merck Bayer
Continental KGaA
CEA Roche
Share of SDG-
related patent
families in
Renault owner’s entire
portfolio (%)
−3
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90

Note: CEA is the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission; CNRS is the Centre National de la
Recherche Scientifique.
Source: WIPO, based on patent data from PatentSight, January 2024.
Mapping Innovations Patents and the Sustainable Development Goals
Among these top owners, there is a wide range in the share of SDG-related patents, varying
from 16% to 71%. Bayer, a German pharmaceutical and biotechnology company, holds the
 31

highest share, followed by Roche, also operating a pharmaceuticals division along with medical
diagnostics. Other owners with a notable share of SDG-related patents include Siemens Energy,
Philips, the VW Group, and CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique).

Table 2 ranks the top 25 patent owners by total SDG-related patent families. Bosch leads with
over 12,000 patent families, followed closely by the VW Group and Siemens, with over 8,000
each. Predominantly comprising automotive sector entities, other sectors represented include
engineering, energy, telecommunications, and electronics.

Table 2 Top 25 patent owners from Europe based on number of SDG-related active
international patent families, 2000–2023

Share of SDG-
related patent
SDG-related active families in CAGR of SDG-
Headquarters international owner’s entire share, 2018–2023
Patent owner location patent families portfolio (%) (%)
Bosch Germany 12,246 34 1.2
VW Group Germany 8,959 55 0.8
Siemens Germany 8,775 52 1.9
Philips Netherlands 6,250 55 0.6
Medtronic Ireland 5,228 50 –0.1
Airbus Group Netherlands 4,457 46 0.6
Safran France 4,000 42 0.6
Roche Switzerland 3,907 65 –0.7
BASF Germany 3,823 45 0.3
Siemens Energy Germany 3,070 56 2.7
CEA France 2,931 43 –0.8
Ericsson Sweden 2,882 16 5.1
BMW Germany 2,815 48 0.5
ZF Germany 2,776 40 1.6
Valeo France 2,774 29 –0.1
CNRS France 2,764 54 –0.2
Bayer Germany 2,421 71 –0.7
Stellantis Netherlands 2,383 50 0.0
Nokia Finland 2,282 17 3.0
Continental Germany 2,091 28 –0.9
Rolls-Royce United Kingdom 2,068 48 2.5
Merck KGaA Germany 1,932 50 –0.3
Renault France 1,791 50 –2.7
Fraunhofer Germany 1,729 36 0.3
ABB Switzerland 1,689 32 4.3

Note: CAGR is the compound annual growth rate.

Source: WIPO, based on patent data from PatentSight, January 2024.
Who are the patent applicants driving sustainable innovation?
 32 China

In China, well-known organizations dominate the top ranks, led by Huawei, followed by BOE
(known for display manufacturing), the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and TCL (Figure 17). All
these entities exhibit positive developments, particularly in the past 5–10 years, aligning with
the overall trend among the top 25 patent owners in China.

Figure 17 Top 25 patent owners from China based on number of SDG-related active
international patent families, 2000–2023

Over the past 5–10 years, the top 25 patent owners in China have all shown positive growth. Among
them, Huawei, BOE Technology Group, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, and TCL dominate.

9,000 Number of SDG-related

active international
patent families
Huawei
8,000

7,000

6,000

Ping An BOE
5,000 Insurance

4,000
Chinese Academy TCL
of Sciences

3,000

2,000

1,000
CATL
Reporting year
0
2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022

Source: WIPO, based on patent data from PatentSight, January 2024.

Mapping Innovations Patents and the Sustainable Development Goals
Figure 18 Comparing the top 25 patent owners from China by share of SDG-related
patents and compound annual growth rate (CAGR), 2018–2023
 33

The top patent owners in China exhibit diversity in size. Huawei is the largest, but less than 20% of its
portfolio is related to SDGs, whereas Ping An Insurance demonstrates the strongest growth rate.

9,000 Number of SDG-related active

900 international patent families

20
CAGR of SDG-
share, 2018-2023 Ping An
(%) Insurance

15

10 Alibaba Baidu Ant Group

Group

Oppo
Huawei Tencent

ZTE State Grid BYD Company

Corp CATL

0
BOE TCL Chinese
Academy
of Sciences Tsinghua
Midea University
Group (China)
−5 Xiaomi Share of SDG-
DJI Innovations related patent
families in
owner’s entire
portfolio (%)
−10
0 20 40 60 80 100

Source: WIPO, based on patent data from PatentSight, January 2024.

China’s top 25 patent owners exhibit a diversity in size. Huawei is the largest in terms of
absolute size but less than 20% of its portfolio is relevant to the SDGs, ranking lower among the
top 25 patent owners (Figure 18). Notably, Ping An Insurance stands out as having the strongest
growth rate, primarily attributable to the contribution it has made to blockchain development.
Who are the patent applicants driving sustainable innovation?

CATL (Contemporary Amperex Technology), a major Li-ion battery manufacturer supporting

decarbonization, holds the second largest share of SDG-related patents among the top 25
patent owners in China. Table 3 details the key metrics for these entities, highlighting Huawei’s
leading position, with over 9,000 patent families in its SDG portfolio, followed by BOE, the
Chinese Academy of Sciences, and TCL. Additionally, Ping An Insurance boasts the highest CAGR
among the top 25.
 34 Table 3 Top 25 patent owners from China based on number of SDG-related active
international patent families, 2000–2023

Share of SDG-related
SDG-related active patent families
international patent in owner’s entire CAGR of SDG-share,
Patent owner families portfolio (%) 2018–2023 (%)
Huawei 9,385 17 6.4
BOE 4,770 22 –0.6
Chinese Academy of Sciences 3,805 53 –0.6
TCL 3,442 24 –0.5
CATL 2,834 89 0.6
Tsinghua University (China) 2,511 58 –1.1
Baidu 2,264 45 9.9
ZTE 2,139 12 2.2
Ping An Insurance 1,977 41 16.4
Tencent 1,814 23 6.7
DJI Innovations 1,662 49 –5.0
Oppo 1,629 16 7.4
Midea Group 1,592 26 –2.8
Ant Group 1,374 49 10.1
Xiaomi 1,317 20 –4.0
Haier 1,297 20 6.5
BYD Company 1,242 63 1.3
Sinochem Holdings 1,158 55 –0.8
Zhejiang Geely 917 48 2.2
Alibaba Group 906 18 8.1
Zhejiang University 865 49 –0.4
SMIC 796 48 0.5
State Grid Corp 767 44 2.4
Lenovo 717 15 1.3
Envision Energy 698 93 –0.7

Note: CAGR is the compound annual growth rate. CATL is Contemporary Amperex Technology; SMIC is Semiconductor
Manufacturing International Corporation.
Source: WIPO, based on patent data from PatentSight, January 2024.
Mapping Innovations Patents and the Sustainable Development Goals
Japan  35

The top 25 patent owners headquartered in Japan exhibit various trends in their development.
Toyota Motor stands out with a consistent upward trajectory in its number of SDG-related active
patent families, surpassing Panasonic in 2013. Indeed, Panasonic’s growth in patents has slowed
over the past decade. Other notable developments come from Honda Motor, DENSO, and
Mitsubishi Electric, all showing a substantial upward trend in Figure 19.

At the lower end of the chart, TDK has experienced a recent but noticeable surge, doubling
its rate of growth since around 2020. This is especially visible in Figure 20. This spike in TDK’s
growth in SDG-related patents, with a CAGR of above 10%, is attributable to its initially limited
SDG portfolio and recent significant expansion.

Figure 19 Top 25 patent owners from Japan based on the number of SDG-related active
international patent families, 2000–2023

Toyota Motor demonstrates a sustained upward trend in the number of SDG-related active patent
families, whereas Panasonic’s patent growth has slowed over the past decade.

18,000 Number of SDG-related

active international
patent families Toyota Motor
16,000

14,000

12,000 Panasonic

10,000

8,000 Honda Motor DENSO

6,000

4,000 Mitsubishi Electric

2,000
TDK

Reporting year
0
2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022
Who are the patent applicants driving sustainable innovation?

Source: WIPO, based on patent data from PatentSight, January 2024.

 36 Figure 20 Comparing the top 25 patent owners from Japan by share of SDG-related
patents and compound annual growth rate (CAGR), 2018–2023

TDK has experienced a recent surge in SDG-related patents, but Unicharm holds the largest share of
SDG-related patents.

20000 Number of SDG-related active

2000 international patent families

12
CAGR of SDG-
share, 2018-2023
TDK
(%)
10

4
Sony
Panasonic Aisin
Olympus
2

DENSO
Unicharm
Mitsubishi Honda
0 Electric Motor
Toyota
Motor Share of SDG-
Nissan
Sumitomo Motor related patent
−2 Sumitomo Chemical
Electric families in
owner’s entire
portfolio (%)
−4
10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80

Source: WIPO, based on patent data from PatentSight, January 2024.

Toyota Motor displays robust absolute development among the top 25 patent owners, despite
having a negative CAGR (Table 4). This indicates that, while Toyota’s absolute numbers of
SDG-related patents continue to grow, the proportion they constitute within the company’s
Mapping Innovations Patents and the Sustainable Development Goals

overall portfolio is decreasing. Nissan Motor and Honda Motor also demonstrate having
made innovative strides in alternative propulsion methods, such as batteries and fuel cells,
contributing to their positions.

The patent owner with the largest share of their portfolio being SDG-related is Unicharm,
boasting around 80%, which surpasses Toyota’s 63%. This predominance is primarily owing to
Unicharm’s technologies catering to daily personal care activities, thereby aligning strongly with
the UN SDGs.
Table 4 Top 25 patent owners from Japan based on number of SDG-related active
international patent families, 2000–2023
 37

Share of SDG-related
SDG-related active patent families
international patent in owner’s entire CAGR of SDG-share,
Patent owner families portfolio (%) 2018–2023 (%)
Toyota Motor 18,397 63 –0.7
Panasonic 10,644 31 2.3
Honda Motor 9,695 48 0.9
Canon 7,314 17 1.9
Hitachi 7,284 27 0.5
Fujifilm 6,617 24 2.6
DENSO 6,532 34 0.9
Sony 6,323 22 2.9
Mitsubishi Electric 5,697 20 –0.7
Toshiba 4,740 24 1.1
Olympus 4,301 52 1.9
Mitsubishi Heavy 4,082 43 –0.8
Nissan Motor 3,326 57 –0.8
NEC 3,194 19 2.8
Fujitsu 2,783 19 3.5
Epson 2,761 16 0.6
Sumitomo Chemical 2,633 33 –1.1
Sumitomo Electric 2,607 22 –1.4
Aisin 2,205 43 2.3
Semiconductor Energy Lab 2,110 35 –0.4
Unicharm 2,056 80 0.1
Murata Manufacturing 2,014 17 –1.0
TDK 1,953 25 10.8
Toray 1,854 42 –0.8
MCG Group 1,741 40 –0.5

Note: CAGR is the compound annual growth rate.

Source: WIPO, based on patent data from PatentSight, January 2024.

Who are the patent applicants driving sustainable innovation?

 38 Republic of Korea

Samsung, one of the world’s largest patent holders, unsurprisingly dominates the top 25 patent
owners from the Republic of Korea (Figure 21). Samsung’s consistent positive development in
SDG-related patents aligns with its overall portfolio growth, resulting in a stagnant 0% growth
rate for its SDG-related share, which stands at approximately 25% of the total portfolio.

Figure 21 Top 25 patent owners from the Republic of Korea based on number of SDG-
related active international patent families, 2000–2023

Samsung dominates among the top patent owners in the Republic of Korea.

26,000 Number of SDG-related

Samsung
active international
24,000 patent families

22,000

20,000

18,000

16,000

14,000
LG Chem
12,000
LG Electronics
10,000
Hyundai Motor
8,000

6,000 Samsung SDI

4,000
Kia
2,000
Reporting year
0
2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022

Source: WIPO, based on patent data from PatentSight, January 2024.

Mapping Innovations Patents and the Sustainable Development Goals
Figure 22 Comparing the top 25 patent owners from the Republic of Korea by share of
SDG-related patents and compound annual growth rate (CAGR), 2018–2023
 39

Samsung’s rapidly increasing portfolio of SDG-related patents has resulted in stagnant growth, but
SDG-related patents account for 25% of its total portfolio.

30,000
Number of SDG-related active
10,000
3,000 international patent families

8
CAGR of SDG-
share, 2018-2023
(%)
LG Electronics

ETRI Korea Hyundai LG Chem

Motor
KAIST SK Innovation
Samsung
0 Electro-
Mechanics Hyundai Kia
Mobis
Samsung
HL Mando SDI
LG Display

−4 Posco
Holdings

Share of SDG-
related patent
families in
owner’s entire
portfolio (%)
−8
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90

Source: WIPO, based on patent data from PatentSight, January 2024.

Other notable Republic of Korea players exhibiting larger and positive development trends
include Hyundai Motor, LG Chemical (a major Li-ion battery supplier), LG Electronics, and Kia
(Figure 22). Samsung SDI (another major Li-ion battery supplier) is present in trend analysis but
has experienced limited positive development since around 2015, resulting in a negative growth
rate at this time. Despite this, Samsung SDI still maintains the largest share of SDG-related
Who are the patent applicants driving sustainable innovation?

patents among the Republic of Korea top 25 patent owners. However, this might change if the
current trajectory continues.

The Republic of Korea landscape appears more diverse compared to other regions, with
significant differences in the size of players, a wide range of SDG shares, and a varying growth
rate that ranges from highly positive to highly negative. This diversity likely stems from market
consolidation within the Republic of Korea, where a few major players hold the majority of
patents. As a result, the Republic of Korea top 25 patent owners include entities ranging from
the largest identified SDG patent holder, with over 27,000 active patent families, to the smallest
with under 1,000 patents (Table 5). This consolidation process has provided space for smaller
patent applicants to enter the top 25 and highlights there are numerous academic and research
organizations within the landscape.
 40 Table 5 Top 25 patent owners from the Republic of Korea based on number of SDG-related
active international patent families, 2000–2023

Share of SDG-related
SDG-related active patent families
international patent in owner’s entire CAGR of SDG-share,
Patent owner families portfolio (%) 2018–2023 (%)
Samsung 27,508 26 0.0
Hyundai Motor 10,786 58 0.5
LG Chem 9,856 68 1.0
LG Electronics 7,493 25 5.8
Kia 7,340 59 –0.1
Samsung SDI 5,338 79 –1.2
LG Display 2,730 24 –3.0
ETRI Korea 2,042 24 1.0
Seoul National University 1,551 49 –0.3
KIST Korea 1,366 65 0.0
KAIST 1,351 45 0.9
SK Hynix 1,317 11 –5.1
Hyundai Mobis 1,289 43 –0.7
SK Innovation 1,230 77 0.2
Korea University 1,180 52 2.0
Yonsei University 1,120 48 2.7
HL Mando 969 51 –1.9
Hanyang University 786 46 –1.7
Posco Holdings 760 31 –3.3
Sungkyunkwan University 723 46 –0.3
Korea Electric Power 653 66 0.0
KRICT 620 73 –0.5
Hahn & Company 606 30 0.6
CJ Corporation 544 43 –3.8
Samsung Electro-Mechanics 540 10 –1.0

Note: CAGR is the compound annual growth rate. ETRI is the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute;
KAIST is the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology; KIST is the Korea Institute of Science and Technology;
KRICT is the Korea Research Institute of Chemical technology.
Source: WIPO, based on patent data from PatentSight, January 2024.
Mapping Innovations Patents and the Sustainable Development Goals
Exploring the role of academia and research organizations in
supporting innovation for the SDGs
 41

In an academic and research landscape of sustainable innovation measured by patents aligned

with the SDGs as shown in Figure 23, the University of California held a remarkable position
as the foremost contributor for the better part of two decades. However, in recent times,
its lead has been eclipsed by the Chinese Academy of Sciences, marking a significant shift
in global innovation trends. France has demonstrated a strong presence with both the CEA
(French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission) and the CNRS (Centre National
de la Recherche Scientifique) consistently ranking high in the list. Similarly, the Republic
of Korea has showcased its innovation prowess through institutions like ETRI (Electronics
and Telecommunications Research Institute), while Germany’s Fraunhofer has been a
notable contributor.

MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), a prominent US academic institution, is among

the top contributors and, although it has an upward trajectory, it growth is less than some of
the high-growth performers in recent years. Another entity experiencing limited growth is
the Helmholtz Association from Germany, having dropped down from the second to the 16th
position over the past two decades.

Figure 23 Top 25 patent owners from academia and research organizations based on
number of SDG-related active international patent families, 2000–2023

The University of California has held a prominent position as one of the most significant contributors
for much of the past two decades. However, in recent years, it has been eclipsed by the Chinese
Academy of Sciences.

4,000 Number of SDG-related

active international
patent families

University of California

3,000

Chinese Academy
2,000 of Sciences
Helmholtz Association
MIT

Fraunhofer
Who are the patent applicants driving sustainable innovation?

1,000

Reporting year
0
2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022

Source: WIPO, based on patent data from PatentSight, January 2024.

 42 Figure 24 Comparing the top 25 patent owners from academia and research organizations
by share of SDG-related patents and compound annual growth rate (CAGR), 2018–2023

Johns Hopkins University stands out for its remarkably high share of SDG-related patents, primarily
aligned with SDG 3 Good Health and Well-Being.

4,000 Number of SDG-related active

400 international patent families

3
CAGR of SDG-
share, 2018–2023 Yonsei
(%) University

2 Korea
Stanford
University
University

ITRI MIT
ETRI Korea
KAIST
1

Helmholtz
Fraunhofer Association Johns
Hopkins
0 University
CNRS

CEA Chinese
−1 Academy
AIST Japanof Sciences Share of SDG-
Tsinghua related patent
University families in
(China) owner’s entire
portfolio (%)
−2
20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90

Source: WIPO, based on patent data from PatentSight, January 2024.

Yonsei University and Korea University, both from the Republic of Korea, have exhibited the most
impressive CAGR, underscoring their rapid innovation strides (Figure 24). Conversely, institutions
such as Tsinghua University, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, AIST (National Institute of
Mapping Innovations Patents and the Sustainable Development Goals

Advanced Industrial Science and Technology) Japan, and the CEA have displayed negative CAGRs.

Medical institutes, exemplified by Johns Hopkins University in the United States, dominate
the patent landscape owing to their extensive coverage of medical innovations, which are
particularly aligned with SDG 3 Good Health and Well-Being. This trend is further emphasized
by the substantial contribution of SDG 3 to Johns Hopkins University’s overall SDG share, as
shown in Table 6.

Moreover, certain organizations, including KIST (Korea Institute of Science and Technology),
University of Michigan, and CEA France, stand out for their notable emphasis on SDG 7
Affordable and Clean Energy, accounting for 3% to 11% of their patents. Noteworthy shares in
SDG 2 Zero Hunger, SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production, and SDG 13 Climate
Action have also been observed among specific institutions such as KIST, MIT, and the CEA
(Figure 25).
An intriguing pattern emerges in the patent families of Asian institutions like KIST, KAIST
(Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology) and the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
 43

That is, they seem to exhibit a more balanced distribution of patent families across the various
SDGs compared to their US and European counterparts, who tend to concentrate on a more
specialized focus areas in their innovation endeavors. Such a diversity in focus areas could
suggest there are different strategic approaches to addressing sustainable development
challenges being taken across global research institutions.

Table 6 Top 25 patent owners from academia and research organizations based on
number of SDG-related active international patent families, 2000–2023

Share of SDG-
related patent
SDG-related active families in CAGR of SDG-
international owner’s entire share, 2018–2023
Patent owner Location patent families portfolio (%) (%)
Chinese Academy of Sciences China 3,805 53 –0.6
University of California United States 3,456 68 0.8
CEA France 2,931 43 –0.8
CNRS France 2,764 54 –0.2
Tsinghua University (China) China 2,511 58 –1.1
ETRI Korea Republic of Korea 2,042 24 1.0
Taiwan Province of
ITRI China 2,016 32 1.2
Fraunhofer Germany 1,729 36 0.3
MIT United States 1,725 64 1.4
Seoul National University Republic of Korea 1,551 49 –0.3
Mass General Brigham United States 1,501 76 –0.3
KIST Korea Republic of Korea 1,366 65 0.0
KAIST Republic of Korea 1,351 45 0.9
University of Texas System United States 1,351 75 0.6
Inserm France 1,219 74 –0.3
Helmholtz Association Germany 1,214 51 0.5
Korea University Republic of Korea 1,180 52 2.0
Yonsei University Republic of Korea 1,120 48 2.7
Johns Hopkins University United States 1,117 78 0.3
State University System of Florida United States 1,083 64 –0.1
Stanford University United States 990 69 1.6
Commonwealth System (Pennsyl-vania) United States 929 70 0.1
University of Michigan United States 897 68 0.3
AIST Japan Japan 892 45 –0.9
Harvard United States 889 64 –0.2

Note: CAGR is the compound annual growth rate. AIST is the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and
Technology; CEA is the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission; CNRS is the Centre National de
la Recherche Scientifique; ETRI is the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute; ITRI is the Industrial
Technology Research Institute; KAIST is the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology; KIST is the Korea
Institute of Science and Technology; Inserm is L’Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale; and MIT is the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Source: WIPO, based on patent data from PatentSight, January 2024.
Who are the patent applicants driving sustainable innovation?
 44 Figure 25 Comparing the proportion of international patent families for each the top 25
patent owners from academia and research organizations with each SDG

Patents related to SDG 9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure hold a considerable proportion
among the top academia and research organizations. Innovations from Inserm, Johns Hopkins
University, and Mass General Brigham are more aligned with SDG 3 Good Health and Well-Being.
AIST Japan, CEA, and ITRI hold a higher proportion of patents related to SDG 13 Climate Action,
whereas ETRI Korea’s patents align with SDG 4 Quality Education.

15% 17% 23% 22% 19%

31%
19% 48%
22% 37%
41%
34% 29% 19%

AIST Japan French Alternative Chinese Academy National Center for Commonwealth
Energies and of Sciences Scientific Research System
Atomic Energy (CNRS) (Pennsylvania)
Commission (CEA)

24% 17% 27% 16% 26%

48% 15%

37% 34% 24% 30% 83%

Electronics and Fraunhofer Harvard Helmholtz Inserm

Telecommunications Association
Research Institute
(ETRI Korea)

20% 20% 18% 16% 17% 21% 28%

16% 17%
19% 64%
37% 33%
40% 17% 30%

Industrial Johns Hopkins Korea Advanced Korea Institute of Korea University

Technology University Institute of Science Science and
Research Institute and Technology Technology (KIST
(ITRI) (KAIST) Korea)

21% 28% 19% 29% 21%

40%
55%
71% 18%
32% 32% 23%

Mass General Massachusetts Seoul National Stanford University State University

Brigham Institute of University System of Florida
Technology (MIT)

16% 18% 18% 17%

35% 37%
46%
57%
49% 18%
Mapping Innovations Patents and the Sustainable Development Goals

23% 25% 28%

Tsinghua University University of University of University of Texas Yonsei University

(China) California Michigan System

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being SDG 4: Quality Education SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy
SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production SDG 13: Climate Action Other

Note: Some patents may be associated with multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), leading to overlapping
representation in different segments of the pie chart. Therefore, the total number of patents related to each SDG for
each patent owner, which is the sum of the number of relevant patents in each part of the pie chart, may be greater than
the actual number of SDG-related patents owned by that patent owner. SDGs 8, 10, 16 and 17 are not mapped to patents
because they primarily address socioeconomic rather than technological goals. AIST is the National Institute of Advanced
Industrial Science and Technology; Inserm is L’Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale.
Source: WIPO, based on patent data from PatentSight, January 2024.
Conclusion

The intersection of technologies on which patent protection is being sought and the UN SDGs
directs a unique lens onto the role of IP in advancing global sustainability efforts. As this report
has shown, patent-related data provide a measurable indicator with which to track innovation
that is aligned with the SDGs across diverse technology landscapes.

While certain goals such as SDG 9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure and SDG 13
Climate Action exhibit substantial patent activity, others focused on socioeconomic aspects
have limited patent connections. Nevertheless, upward trends in SDG-related patents,
particularly for renewable energy and emissions reduction, reflect the growing focus on
sustainable technologies.

Mapping patents to the SDGs also reveals intersections, with cross-cutting technologies like
blockchain contributing to multiple goals. Analyzing trends by technology sectors and fields
therefore gives a measurable insight into the alignment of specific areas, such as environmental
and pharmaceutical innovations, with the SDGs.

Overall, this report illuminates the pivotal role of IP in steering development toward
sustainability. With insights from patents mapped to the UN SDGs, we can actively shape our
common future.

45
Appendices

A.1 Data source

All patent analysis was conducted using LexisNexis PatentSight.15 The patent data in
PatentSight is derived from patent office databases around the world,16 for example,
the European Patent Office (EPO) and the United States Patent and Trademark
Office (USPTO). This wealth of patent data consists of over 100 million patent
documents.

PatentSight uses a patent family definition following the principles of the DOCDB
simple family defined by the EPO.17 Simple patent families refer to a collection of
patent applications filed across different geographical regions that cover the same
invention. This grouping prevents double-counting the same invention multiple times.

PatentSight analysis was conducted on active patents18 (i.e., simple patent families
that include at least one active member in the form of at least one pending published
patent application or a granted patent that is not lapsed, withdrawn, invalidated
or rejected at the respective date) as of December 31, 2023. Patents remain active
through regular fee payments and typically have a maximum lifespan of 20 years from
the date of filing. Analysis on active patents offers insights not only into innovation
but also into the continuous dedication to specific areas, with patent owners choosing
to continue to maintain the patent by paying the relevant renewal fees, emphasizing
an ongoing commitment beyond the initial invention.

Patent applicants/owners within PatentSight are based on the current owner of each
patent family at a consolidated level. To define the ultimate owner of a patent family,
PatentSight takes into account and manually checks the corporate structure of a
company, and also considers all reassignments, mergers and acquisitions. An ultimate
owner has no known majority shareholder and owns patent families that belong to its
portfolio either directly or through its group companies, subsidiaries, and/or associate
companies (each being majority-owned by the ultimate owner who holds at least 50%
of shares).

15 See PatentSight+, available at: www.lexisnexisip.com/solutions/ip-analytics-and-intelligence/

patentsight.
16 See Nexis Data+, available at: www.lexisnexis.com/en-us/professional/data/nexis-data-plus.page.
17 EPO. DOCDB simple patent family. European Patent Office, available at: www.epo.org/searching-for-
patents/helpful-resources/first-time-here/patent-families/docdb.html.
18 Except for the Innovation Maturity Matrix which requires counts of all published patents.
46 See Appendix A.4 for methodology used.
A.2 Patent-to-SDG mapping methodology  47

LexisNexis Intellectual Property Solutions conducted an in-depth mapping exercise connecting

global patent data to the 17 United Nations SDGs, as outlined in Table 7, providing insights into
how cutting-edge innovations across various industries contribute to achieving the UN goals and
targets. Mapping these patent data to the SDGs provides insights into how current technologies
on which patent protection is being sought could contribute to achieving the UN goals.

The mapping methodology involved initially identifying all patentable technologies mentioned
in the Goals, Targets, Indicators, Meta data, or Policy documents provided by the UN.19 This
led to the identification of 100 distinct technology categories, encompassing fields such as
renewable energy, transportation, agriculture, water treatment, and medical devices. Each
of these technologies corresponds to one or more of the SDGs, facilitating the aggregation of
patents related to these goals.

For each technology, a patent search strategy was developed to comprehensively cover the
technology’s scope as outlined by the SDGs. These searches specifically focus on elements
explicitly mentioned and employ various strategies tailored to each technology. The approach
involves utilizing IPCs (International Patent Classifications), CPCs (Cooperative Patent
Classifications), F-Terms (File forming terms), along with English Title, Abstract, Claims, and
Descriptions, with machine-translations of patents where official translations are unavailable.

The mapping shows that some SDG goals, such as SDG 9 Industry, Innovation and
Infrastructure and SDG 3 Good Health and Well-Being contain a high number of patents
and technology categories, highlighting significant innovation activity (Figures 1 and 5).
However, four of the 17 SDGs do not appear to cover patentable technology areas, but instead
primarily address socioeconomic developments rather than technological aspects, for example,
SDG 17 Partnerships for the Goals. The patent mapping methodology therefore only applies
to 13 of the 17 SDGs, and subsequent analysis of the mapped patent data reveals technology
trends, top owners, geographical distribution, and opportunities for further IP development
and collaboration around key SDGs.

The mapping provides a quantifiable measure of the intellectual capital being invested in each
goal, offering a tangible representation of the commitment to sustainable development within
the global innovation landscape.

Appendix 2

19 See https://sdgs.un.org/goals.
 48 Table 7 An overview of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 1: No Poverty End poverty in all its forms everywhere

SDG 2: Zero Hunger End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition
and promote sustainable agriculture

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all
ages

SDG 4: Quality Education Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and
promote lifelong learning opportunities for all

SDG 5: Gender Equality Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls

SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation Ensure availability and sustainable management of water
and sanitation for all

SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and
modern energy for all

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic
Growth* growth, full and productive employment and decent work
for all

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation and Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and
Infrastructure sustainable industrialization and foster innovation

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities* Reduce inequality within and among countries

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient
Communities and sustainable

SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns
Production

SDG 13: Climate Action Take urgent action to combat climate change and its
impacts

SDG 14: Life Below Water Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine
resources for sustainable development

SDG 15: Life on Land Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial
ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat
desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and
halt biodiversity loss
SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable
Institutions* development, provide access to justice for all and build
effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals* Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the
global partnership for sustainable development

* Note that four of the 17 SDGs (SDGs 8, 10, 16 and 17) do not cover patentable technology areas, but instead primarily
address socioeconomic developments rather than technological aspects. The patent mapping methodology therefore
Mapping Innovations Patents and the Sustainable Development Goals

applies to 13 of the 17 SDGs only.

A.3 Foreign-oriented patent families (international patent families)  49

Some of the analysis in this report is limited to foreign-oriented patent families (international
patent families). Foreign-oriented patent families concern those inventions for which the
applicant has sought patent protection beyond its home patent office (i.e., filing in more than
one authority/jurisdiction). Of the 15.2 million active patent families worldwide, 26% (3.9 million)
are foreign-oriented patent families (international patent families).

Analysis by international patent families is highly effective for the largest patent-seeking
entities making critical decisions on a daily basis about the perceived value of their patents and
the strategic allocation of limited budgets for patent filing and maintenance. However, it also
has limitations. Smaller entities may have groundbreaking inventions to protect, but lack the
resources to do so broadly. Government-funded organizations may be focused on the domestic
market, arguably overly so. Certain technology areas may also have very limited geographical
scope, reducing the need for internationalization beyond a single market. While these are the
limitations, they are more the edge cases rather than the majority case, at least at the global
level covered by the analysis in this report.

Analysis by international patent families also limits any bias introduced for China. Among all
active patent families today (not just SDG-related), roughly 50% were filed only in China, as
shown in Figure 26. This wealth of domestic-only patents in China means there is a notable bias
in the global patent data toward China. This bias is another reason to only consider international
patent families for geographical patent analysis and analysis by owners.

Figure 26 Share of active patent families by number of filing authorities

3.2%
2.2%

1 filing authority 47.9% 8.4% 6.9% 6.0%

2–10 filing authorities 19.1%

>10 filing authorities 6.3%

China Japan Republic of Korea US Europe All Others Multiple

Source: WIPO, based on patent data from PatentSight, January 2024.

Appendix 3
 50 A.4 Innovation Maturity Matrix

The Innovation Maturity Matrix 20 depicts innovation intensity against the relative recency of
innovation for each SDG, based on SDG-related patent applications filed worldwide.

Figure 27 Defining the Innovation Maturity Matrix

Innovation
intensity

Mature Current hot

sectors topics

Modest Emerging
development interest

Relative recency

Innovation intensity is measured by absolute number of published patent families (it is not
limited solely to active patent families).

Recency measures quantitatively how recently patent applications were first filed for certain
technologies. It is calculated by a weighted average of patent applications, whereby a higher
weighting is given to inventions filed in more recent years. Relative recency refers to a
normalized recency, where the recency of the overall SDG-related patent dataset is 1.

Recency formula:

where i = 1 for the first year of the survey period, and i increases by 1 for every subsequent year
in chronological order; n is the total number of years of the survey period; and wi is the number
of patent applications filed in the year i.
Mapping Innovations Patents and the Sustainable Development Goals

The four-quadrant matrix helps identify the following:

– Emerging interest – areas with related patent families that have the most recent priority
year, but are not yet large in volume. Such areas are emerging and gaining rapid
industry traction.
– Current hot topics – research areas that are the current industry focus and have a high
number of accumulated patent families.
– Mature sectors – areas with a high number of patent families, but which are no longer the
current key focus, as most patent families were published in the relative past.
– Modest development – areas that are not of recent focus and have a small number of filings.
These could already have arrived at the final stage of the technology cycle, that is, at the
decline stage; or else be areas that have been explored for a (relatively) long period of time,
but had not gained traction at the time of the patent analytics report.

20 A methodology developed by IPOS International https://iposinternational.com/

A.5 Relative development of technology areas  51

It is mentioned in the report that some technology areas produce more patents than others.
This does not directly mean one area is more inventive than another, as it can be the forces
of industry, the market or the technology itself that causes this. Comparing the number of
patent families in two very distinct technology areas in absolute terms may not therefore be an
effective measure. For this reason, most of the report also considers the share of the technology
area that is SDG-related, rather than just the absolute number of patents.

When discussing the number of active patent families associated with each of the SDGs, as
shown in Figure 1, the lower number of patents filed for medical innovations is mentioned and
compared to areas like electronics. This does not necessarily say anything about the relative
level of innovation in these two technology areas, but simply that other external factors
mean there is a greater propensity to seek patents for electronic innovations than medical
innovations. In Figure 28, the development in number of active patent families in the 35
WIPO technology fields is shown. Technology fields 3, 4, 6 and 10 are highlighted to represent
“electronics” and technology fields 11, 13, and 16 are highlighted to represent “medical”, and
there is a noticeable difference in the absolute number of patents between the two areas.

Figure 28 Number of active patent families in each of the 35 WIPO technology

fields, 2000–2023

2.4M Number of active

patent families
06–Computer
technology

2M

1.6M

10–Measurement

1.2M

04–Digital
13–Medical technology communication

800K 16–Pharmaceuticals

11–Analysis of 03–
biological materials Telecommunications

400K

0 Reporting year
2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012 2014 2016 2018 2020 2022

Source: WIPO, based on patent data from PatentSight, January 2024.

Appendix 5
 52 A.6 Selecting geographical regions for analysis

The report focuses on five major regions, and in some cases also patents filed via the PCT
system (WIPO). These regions are the United States of America, Europe, China, Japan, and the
Republic of Korea. Europe includes filings at the EPO and national patent office filings within
geographical Europe, but without duplication because only one record per international patent
family is counted.

There are many other patent authorities around the world. However, to limit the scope of the
report only the five listed above were selected. They were selected as they are the largest
patent authorities by number of filings and active patents. Figure 29 shows the share of active
international patent families today in these five regions, with ‘All others’ shown separately. The
‘All others’ is only slightly larger than the Republic of Korea, and smaller than all other regions
shown in the report.

Figure 29 Share of active international patent families by filing authority

US 75%

WIPO 63%

China 57%

Europe 56%

Japan 41%

Republic of Korea 25%

All Others 31%

Source: WIPO, based on patent data from PatentSight, January 2024.

Mapping Innovations Patents and the Sustainable Development Goals
© WIPO, 2024 / Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) / The CC license does not apply to non-WIPO content in this publication. wipo.int
Cover: Getty Images/Tetiana Lazunova / WIPO Reference RN2024-18EN; DOI: 0.34667/tind.49301