In the intellectual property race, China is catching up
China has surpassed the US to become the top global source of chemistry patents, with over half a million chemistry patent publications in 2025, of which over 92% were 'homegrown'. The quality of China's patents is improving rapidly, although it still lags behind other countries.
China has become the leading source of chemistry patents globally, overtaking the US. In 2025, China accounted for around half of all chemistry patent publications, with over 92% of these being 'homegrown' and tracing back to a parent case first filed in China. The US, on the other hand, contributed only 7.6% of the total chemistry patent publications. The shift in China's patent activity is attributed to its growing focus on intellectual property and innovation. The US had a head start in the chemical industry, but China's rapid improvement in patent quality is notable. The total number of chemistry patent publications worldwide was 1,045,283 in 2025, across 174 international territories.
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