Portugal invention filings jump 43% in first eight months

Applications to protect inventions in Portugal rose 43% in the first eight months of 2026, while trademark filings also increased, according to provisional data from the National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI). The figures matter for companies and investors because they point to stronger demand for intellectual property protection in Portugal, although the trend was uneven across categories.

Between January and August, 973 national invention applications were filed, up from 679 a year earlier. But grants moved in the opposite direction: INPI granted 108 invention rights, down 39.3% from 178 in the same period of 2025. The gap does not necessarily mean more rejections, as grant procedures can take time.

Trademark activity remained strong. National applications for trademarks and other distinctive commercial signs rose 9.6% to 16,826, from 15,351 a year earlier, while grants increased 4.9% to 13,343. Demand also grew beyond the domestic market, with EU trademark applications originating in Portugal rising to 1,792 from 1,572, an increase of about 14%. International trademark applications from Portugal, however, fell to 94 from 109.

Design was the weakest area. The number of objects included in national design applications dropped 38% to 420, from 677 in the first eight months of 2025, while grants fell 15.4% to 495. Even so, EU design applications originating in Portugal increased 6.9% to 498 objects, according to data from the European Union Intellectual Property Office.

INPI data also showed greater use of international patent channels. International PCT and European patent applications filed through INPI as receiving office rose to 59 from 50 a year earlier, while validations of European patents filed in Portugal edged down 3.2% to 1,281. Overall, the data suggest Portuguese companies and inventors are seeking more protection for inventions and brands, including outside the domestic market.

Originally published at Eco.pt