● The UK ranks second in Europe, behind Germany and sixth worldwide in terms of international patent families (IPFs)

● Major funding agencies drive the majority of public investment efforts with Cancer Research UK contributing 4.8% of global public investment

● Over 5 million lives saved in Europe thanks to advances in diagnostic and treatment

● The EPO launches a free online tool to easily access business and technical information on cancer-related inventions

Cancer remains a global health threat despite advances in research and technology. According to the European Cancer Information System (ECIS), 31% of men and 25% of women are expected to be diagnosed with cancer in Europe before reaching the age of 75.

The most common types of cancers in the UK are breast, lung, prostate and bowel cancers, equivalent to over half of new cancer cases according to Cancer Research UK. However, over 5 million lives were saved in Europe alone thanks to inventions in oncology(1), and numbers show the acceleration of research can save even more.

The new European Patent Office (EPO) study, “Patents and Innovation against Cancer”, reveals a remarkable 70% surge in cancer-focused inventions and technologies from 2015 to 2021, gauged by the proliferation of international patent families (IPFs)(2). More than 140,000 cancer-fighting inventions have been disclosed in public patent documents over the past 50 years.

Enhancing accessibility, the study integrates a free-access online platform, “Technologies combating cancer”, that streamlines access for innovators in the field through pre-defined patent database searches. The platform includes not just the 140,000 inventions on which the study was based, but many more besides. This is the fourth such platform from the EPO, following those on coronavirus, clean energy technologies and firefighting. Additionally, the EPO is updating its free tool, "Deep Tech Finder," which maps almost 8,000 startups across Europe with patent applications.

The tool now includes filters for 17 different cancer-related technologies, relating to 1 340 investment-ready startups in this field. This helps investors and potential partners in discovering valuable new cancer technologies within the deep tech sector.

The fight against cancer in the UK

The study finds that in the last decade, the UK has doubled its number of cancer-related patent applications, rising to second place in Europe, contributing to 15% of all IPFs from European applicants related to inventions in the fight against cancer. AstraZeneca was one of the three leading UK applicants between 2002 and 2021, ranking 10th among all applicants globally. In the field of cancer funding, Cancer Research UK is driving most of the public investment efforts, contributing 4.8% of global public investment.

EPO President António Campinos said: “The platform we’re launching today can play a significant role in helping to curb cancer by empowering scientists with technical information and insight to further their research and support them in bringing forward new technologies that can save lives. Here in Europe, we’re in second place when it comes to developing cancer-related technologies, but clearly, we can do much more, we have to do more - especially when considering that there is predicted to be an increase in the number of cancer diagnoses in the coming years we have to do more."

The increasing role of universities and public research centres

How these inventions make their way to the market is changing. The study also points out a possible shift over the last two decades. Universities, hospitals, public research organisations and start-ups are playing an increasingly important role. Among the main universities and research centres in the UK, both Oxford and Cambridge Universities ranked in the top five.

ENDS

(1) Dalmartello M. et al., 2022

(2) An IPF represents a significant invention for which patent applications have been filed in two or more countries worldwide

Further information:

● Read the full study

● Access the EPO’s “Deep Tech Finder”

● Access the “Technologies combatting cancer” platform

● Meet some of the cancer innovators

● Join the EPO’s online event: Combatting cancer: how innovation actors are changing the landscape

About the EPO

With 6 300 staff, the European Patent Office (EPO) is one of the largest public service institutions in Europe. Headquartered in Munich with offices in Berlin, Brussels, The Hague and Vienna, the EPO was founded with the aim of strengthening co-operation on patents in Europe. Through the EPO's centralised patent granting procedure, inventors are able to obtain high-quality patent protection in up to 45 countries, covering a market of some 700 million people. The EPO is also the world's leading authority in patent information and patent searching.

Media contacts European Patent Office

George Wakely

UK Media Manager

Tel. +447826493161

george.wakely@marco.agency

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