Portugal patent applications rise 36.8% through September 2026

Portugal has seen a 36.8% increase in national invention patent applications between January and September 2026, totaling 1,093 requests compared to the same period last year. These figures were highlighted during celebrations for the 50th anniversary of the National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI).

In 2025, Portugal recorded 1,170 invention patent applications, marking its highest level in a decade. Data indicates that Portugal's patent applications per million inhabitants currently exceed those of Spain, France, and Germany. Additionally, Portugal leads the European Union in geographical indications for artisanal and industrial products, with 45 in force, 36 of which are protected throughout the EU.

The anniversary conference, ‘Meio Século de História. A Pensar o Futuro’, featured international leaders including WIPO Director General Daren Tang and EUIPO Executive Director João Negrão. Portugal's Minister of Justice, Rita Alarcão Júdice, noted that industrial property reflects the country's increasing valuation of research and innovation.