Life science patents granted, by filing office in Switzerland
Switzerland: Life science patents granted, by filing office was 28 patents in 2023. ◆ Volatile
Life science patents granted, by filing office in Switzerland, 1980–2023
Source: World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) (2025) – processed by Our World in Data. Measured in patents.
Analysis
Switzerland recorded 28 patents for life science patents granted, by filing office in 2023.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 15.2% on the previous year and up 16.7% over ten years.
Over the whole period, life science patents granted, by filing office in Switzerland peaked at 680 patents in 1984 and was at its lowest, 24 patents, in 2013.
That places Switzerland 31st out of 70 countries with data for 2023, putting it in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Life science patents granted, by filing office in Switzerland, year by year
| Year | patents | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 466 patents | — |
| 1981 | 509 patents | +9.2% |
| 1982 | 619 patents | +21.6% |
| 1983 | 662 patents | +6.9% |
| 1984 | 680 patents | +2.7% |
| 1985 | 591 patents | -13.1% |
| 1986 | 424 patents | -28.3% |
| 1987 | 336 patents | -20.8% |
| 1988 | 380 patents | +13.1% |
| 1989 | 347 patents | -8.7% |
| 1990 | 264 patents | -23.9% |
| 1991 | 237 patents | -10.2% |
| 1992 | 134 patents | -43.5% |
| 1993 | 149 patents | +11.2% |
| 1994 | 109 patents | -26.8% |
| 1995 | 118 patents | +8.3% |
| 1996 | 104 patents | -11.9% |
| 1997 | 74 patents | -28.8% |
| 1998 | 33 patents | -55.4% |
| 1999 | 38 patents | +15.2% |
| 2000 | 51 patents | +34.2% |
| 2001 | 61 patents | +19.6% |
| 2002 | 67 patents | +9.8% |
| 2003 | 49 patents | -26.9% |
| 2004 | 64 patents | +30.6% |
| 2005 | 52 patents | -18.8% |
| 2006 | 63 patents | +21.2% |
| 2007 | 58 patents | -7.9% |
| 2008 | 47 patents | -19.0% |
| 2009 | 66 patents | +40.4% |
| 2010 | 66 patents | +0.0% |
| 2011 | 31 patents | -53.0% |
| 2012 | 30 patents | -3.2% |
| 2013 | 24 patents | -20.0% |
| 2014 | 32 patents | +33.3% |
| 2015 | 25 patents | -21.9% |
| 2016 | 26 patents | +4.0% |
| 2017 | 33 patents | +26.9% |
| 2018 | 43 patents | +30.3% |
| 2019 | 35 patents | -18.6% |
| 2020 | 52 patents | +48.6% |
| 2021 | 34 patents | -34.6% |
| 2022 | 33 patents | -2.9% |
| 2023 | 28 patents | -15.2% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980s | 501.4 patents | 336 patents | 680 patents | 10 |
| 1990s | 126 patents | 33 patents | 264 patents | 10 |
| 2000s | 57.8 patents | 47 patents | 67 patents | 10 |
| 2010s | 34.5 patents | 24 patents | 66 patents | 10 |
| 2020s | 36.75 patents | 28 patents | 52 patents | 4 |
Countries ranked near Switzerland
More science & technology data for Switzerland
- Mobile landline subscriptions, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, gaps filled 129.47 (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per capita 1.28 units per person (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, gaps filled 11.55 million (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, per square kilometre 292.37 units per square kilometre (2023)
- Mobile landline subscriptions, annual growth rate -0.5767 % change on previous year (2024)
- Mobile cellular subscriptions by country, annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2024)
- Scientific and technical journal articles 22,804 (2023)
- Scientific and technical journal articles, per capita 0.0026 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is life science patents granted, by filing office in Switzerland?
- Life science patents granted, by filing office in Switzerland was 28 patents in 2023, according to World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) (2025) – processed by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest life science patents granted, by filing office recorded in Switzerland?
- The highest recorded value was 680 patents in 1984.
- What is the lowest life science patents granted, by filing office recorded in Switzerland?
- The lowest recorded value was 24 patents in 2013.
- How does Switzerland rank for life science patents granted, by filing office?
- Switzerland ranks 31st out of 70 countries with data for 2023.
- Is life science patents granted, by filing office rising or falling in Switzerland?
- Over the last ten years it is up 16.7%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Switzerland data come from?
- The figures come from World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) (2025) – processed by Our World in Data, published as part of Life science patents granted, by filing office. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Patents granted within the fields of medical technology, biotechnology, and pharmaceuticals by filing office. These patents cover a wide range of innovations, such as medical devices, diagnostic methods, genetic engineering techniques, biotechnological processes and new drugs.