EPO Study Released Today: Innovation Trends in Additive Manufacturing
3D printing has evolved from a specialized technology for prototypes to a central technology for manufacturing final products in an increasing variety of industrial sectors. These sectors range from healthcare and medical technologies, transportation, energy, and machine tools, to electronics, consumer goods, construction, and even the food sector.
In the interesting study, some of its key findings include:
- Innovation in 3D printing technologies has increased in recent years, with the U.S. and Europe at the forefront.
- The number of international patent families in 3D printing technologies grew at an average annual rate of +26% between 2013 and 2020, nearly eight times faster than the average rate of all technologies.
- The leading countries in Europe for 3D printing patent filings are Germany (41% of Europe’s share (EPO-39)), France (12%), the United Kingdom (12%), Switzerland (8%), the Netherlands (7%), Italy (3%), Belgium (3%), Sweden (3%), Austria (2%), and Spain (2%).
- The additive manufacturing ecosystem is diverse – it includes large, established engineering companies, traditional and specialized AM printer companies, large manufacturers from various industries, and a vibrant startup scene.
EN_Global EPO press release_3D printing
