Nextgov: Study: China Far Outpacing U.S. in Worldwide Robotics Patents
China has become the clear global leader in the total number of robotics patents issued, with nearly triple the number of robotics patents granted per year as the United States, according to a lengthy study published Tuesday by the Center for Security and Emerging Technology.
The nonpartisan think-tank found China accounted for more than 25,000, or almost 35% of the global robotics patents between 2005 and 2019, nearly three times more than the 9,500 robotics patents granted by the U.S. over the same time period. The U.S. ranked fourth among nations, coming in behind South Korea (11,000) and Japan (15,000) in total number of robotics patents issued since 2005.
While the U.S. once dominated the global share of robotics patents issued, China reversed that trend a decade ago with its Made in China 2025 plan and is not slowing down its pace of robotics innovation. In 2019, China captured 5,400 robotics patents, or a 43% share of global robotics patents; conversely, the U.S. issued 2,100, or 17% of global robotics patents.