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Patent Index 2024: Japan ranks 3rd in European patent applications

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European Patent Office received nearly 200 000 patent applications last year, with Japanese companies and inventors filing 10.6% of the total Electrical machinery/energy, transport and computers are leading technology fields for Japanese inventions Tokyo 1st in global city ranking  Sony Group is among the EPO’s Top 10 applicant companies Four Japanese companies among the EPO’s Top 25 applicants worldwide.

MUNICH and TOKYO, March 31, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — According to the latest Patent Index 2024, published today by the European Patent Office (EPO), Japan ranked third worldwide, following the United States and Germany. In 2024, Japanese companies and inventors filed a total of 21,062 patent applications, accounting for 10.6% of all filings at the EPO. While this represents a  2.4% decrease compared to 2023, Japan remains a powerhouse in technological advancements. Overall, the EPO received 199,264 patent applications worldwide last year, maintaining a steady level of patenting activity comparable to 2023 (199,452 applications), following three years of significant growth.

“Despite political and economic uncertainties, companies and inventors from around the world filed a high number of patents last year, underlining their technological prowess and their continued investment in R&D,” said EPO President António Campinos. “The EPO’s patent data is a clear roadmap for industry, policy, and investment priorities – tracking global innovation trends and offering insights into European patent application activity across industries and regions.” 

Japanese companies excel across key technological sectors

Japanese companies remain leaders in multiple high-growth industries. Japan’s leading field for European patent applications, electrical machinery, apparatus, energy,  saw a total of 2,077 Japanese patent applications, an 8.4% increase compared to 2023. In the area of battery technologies (an important sub-field of electrical machinery), Japanese companies filed 20% more patent applications at the EPO in 2024 compared to 2023. Japan’s second most important field, transport  – which covers automotive, aircraft/aerospace and rail technologies, also experienced growth from Japan, with 1,357 applications, marking a 3.7% rise. The number 3 field was computer technology, with Japanese companies filing 20% more patent applications in several AI-related sub-fields..

Sony Group among the Top 10 in patent applications in Europe

Four Japanese companies ranked among the top 25 patent filers at the EPO. Sony Group led the way with 1,307 applications, securing the 9th position worldwide, up from 10th in 2023. It was followed by Panasonic with 990 filings, Canon with 760 applications, while Hitachi contributed 653. Sony was no. 7 applicant overall at the EPO in computer technology. 13th in measurement and 14th in digital communication. Toyota also made significant strides, ranking no. 4 for vehicle technology (an important sub-field of transport) and second in electric propulsion (electric vehicle) technology, with a notable 12.7% increase in patent applications compared to the previous year.

Japan also showed continued strength in innovation in battery technologies; in the battery-related sub-field of electrical machinery, apparatus, and energy, Japan placed three companies in the global top 10: Panasonic (4th place, 279 patents), Prime Planet Energy (8th place, 85 patents), and Toyota Motor(10th place).

Tokyo 1st in city ranking: Japan’s innovation hub and leading patent contributor

The Tokyo metropolitan area plays a pivotal role in driving Japan’s global technological presence, and it is Japan’s leading prefecture with a total of 11,592 patent applications at the EPO.. Tokyo is also the second largest region worldwide for European patent filings at the EPO, behind the US state of California and ahead of Guangdong (CN), Île-de-France (FR) and Bavaria (DE). Tokyo also leads the worldwide city ranking at the EPO.  Its dominance in patent filings spans a diverse range of industries, including electronics, AI, clean energy, and mobility solutions. Following Tokyo, Osaka ranks second among prefectures, with 2,979 patent applications, while Aichi takes third place with 1,447 applications, marking an impressive 21.9% growth. 

Unitary Patent gains in popularity in its second year

The Unitary Patent system, launched in 2023, continues to gain momentum, offering innovators from around the world simpler and more accessible patent protection across 18 EU Member States with a single request to the EPO. Unitary protection was requested for 25.6% of all European patents granted by the EPO in 2024 totalling over 28,000 requests. Patentees from EPO member states had the highest uptake rate, with 36.5% of their European patents transformed into Unitary Patents, followed by those from Republic of Korea (18.9%), China (17.9%), the US (16.0%), and Japan (7.9%, up from 4.9% in 2023).

Further information

View the Patent Index 2024 in fullExplore and customise statistics in our Statistics & Trends CentreAccess Unitary Patent statistics via our dedicated dashboard Download datasets (MS Excel) in the Download data section of our statistics pageCheck patent trends on the go with the EPO Data Hub mobile appRead studies on innovation trends at the Observatory on Patents and Technology EPO’s support for SMEs, universities, non-profit organisations and other smaller applicants

Follow us on social media: X | Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram | YouTube

Official hashtag: #EPOPatentIndex

About the EPO
With 6 300 staff members, 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.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/patent-index-2024-japan-ranks-3rd-in-european-patent-applications-302414573.html

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EventCamp 2025: Shaping the Future of Hospitality and Events

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Get ready to ignite innovation and redefine success at EventCamp 2025, the premier thought leadership conference for hospitality and event professionals. Hosted by Tripleseat at Encore Boston Harbor on August 12-13, 2025, this year’s event features an inspiring keynote from Tom Colicchio, immersive learning experiences, and unparalleled networking opportunities—ensuring attendees leave with the strategies and connections needed to elevate their business in an evolving industry.

CONCORD, Mass., April 2, 2025 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ — As the hospitality landscape evolves at an unprecedented pace, staying ahead requires more than just adapting; it demands leadership. Tripleseat, the industry’s leading innovator in sales and event management software, proudly announces EventCamp 2025, a transformative gathering from August 12-13, 2025, at Encore Boston Harbor in Everett, MA.

“EventCamp is a special opportunity for like-minded hospitality professionals to come together, share ideas, and bring them back to their venues,” says Tim Fitzgerald, Chief Marketing Officer at Tripleseat.

Celebrating its 8th year, EventCamp is the premier thought leadership event for hospitality and event professionals. It brings together top industry minds, visionary vendors, and game-changing insights. Designed to fuel innovation and spark growth, this year’s conference will empower attendees with the knowledge, tools, and connections needed to redefine success in a fast-changing market.

“EventCamp is a special opportunity for like-minded hospitality professionals to come together, share ideas, and bring them back to their venues,” says Tim Fitzgerald, Chief Marketing Officer at Tripleseat. “We are creating a space where professionals can challenge norms, exchange groundbreaking ideas, and leave with a fresh perspective on what it means to lead in this industry.”

Visionary Voices, Transformative Insights

EventCamp 2025 proudly welcomes Tom Colicchio as this year’s keynote speaker. A culinary powerhouse, eight-time James Beard Award winner, and head judge of the Emmy-winning Top Chef, Colicchio is more than a chef—he is a visionary shaping the future of hospitality. As a fierce advocate for food systems reform and a celebrated author, his journey offers invaluable lessons on leadership, resilience, and innovation. His keynote will challenge attendees to rethink the boundaries of success and leverage bold ideas to thrive in an ever-evolving landscape.

An Elevated Experience: Learning on Your Terms

For the first time, EventCamp 2025 expands to two immersive days, offering a fully customizable experience. Attendees will chart their own learning journey through a dynamic mix of expert-led panels, hands-on workshops, and collaborative breakout sessions tailored to their individual goals. Whether it’s uncovering cutting-edge trends or mastering revenue-driving strategies, the focus is on actionable insights that attendees can implement immediately.

Building a Community of Innovators

Beyond the sessions, EventCamp fosters a collaborative environment where professionals can network with industry leaders, engage in meaningful discussions, and cultivate partnerships that drive long-term growth. It’s more than a conference; it’s a movement dedicated to pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in hospitality and events.

Join the Movement

EventCamp 2025 is where innovation meets action. Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of the conversation shaping the future of hospitality. Secure your spot now for August 12-13, 2025, at Encore Boston Harbor.

Register today: EventCamp 2025 Registration

About Tripleseat

Tripleseat is an award-winning sales and event management platform that powers more than 18,000 venues worldwide. By streamlining operations and maximizing revenue, Tripleseat helps event managers turn their visions into reality.

For more information or to schedule a demo, visit www.tripleseat.com.

Media Contact

Dana Yerid, Tripleseat, 1 978-614-0490, dana@tripleseat.com, www.Tripleseat.com

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STARMUS Launches the Stephen Hawking Medal Junior at The Kennedy Center

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Gitanjali Rao Honoured as the inaugural Recipient of the Stephen Hawking Medal Junior STARMUS cofounders, Garik Israelian and Brian May, introduce the Stephen Hawking Medal Junior Category to Inspire Young Innovators (LINK)STARMUS Celebrates Its US Debut at The Kennedy Center with Panel Discussions, Performances, the Junior Medal Announcement, the Presentation of STARMUS La Palma, and the US Première of the STARMUS VI Film (LINK)

WASHINGTON, April 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — STARMUS Festival proudly announced the launch of the Stephen Hawking Medal Junior Category during the STARMUS x Earth To Space launch event last night at The Kennedy Center. Gitanjali Rao was named the first recipient of this prestigious award. This new category of this prestigious award created by the late Professor Stephen Hawking and STARMUS Festival, represents his last legacy to promote science communication among the younger generation.

Introducing the Stephen Hawking Medal Junior Category

The Stephen Hawking Medal for Science Communication, established in 2015, honoured individuals who excelled in bridging the gap between science and the public through various disciplines such as music, arts, and cinema. The Junior Category aimed to recognize and encourage young innovators who demonstrated exceptional talent and dedication to science communication. Like the Stephen Hawking Medal, the Junior Medal will recognize such dedication through the categories of music, cinema, or literature.

In its inaugural year, the STARMUS Advisory Board selected a profile that perfectly embodies the type of inspiring young individual deserving of this prestigious recognition. Commencing in 2026, the full nominations process will be open to educational centres worldwide, including universities and secondary schools. These institutions will be invited to nominate their most outstanding students, aged 14 to 20, as candidates.

Winners will be awarded the Stephen Hawking Medal and will have the unique opportunity to enrol in a 4 to 6-week internship at a selected science or arts institution, sponsored by STARMUS and the Stephen Hawking Medal partners. During this internship, they will work on their own scientific communications project, which will be published by STARMUS and the Stephen Hawking Medal collaborators and endorsed by a past winner of the Medal.

STARMUS will announce soon the world-class institutions and centres that will collaborate with the Junior Medal Category.

Gitanjali Rao: The First Recipient

Gitanjali Rao, an American inventor, author, and STEM advocate, was selected as the inaugural recipient of the Stephen Hawking Medal Junior. Rao, known for her groundbreaking inventions and contributions to science at a young age, embodied the spirit of innovation and curiosity that Professor Hawking championed. She was named TIME’s first “Kid of the Year” in 2020 for her work in science and technology. Gitanjali is also the inventor of “Epione”—a device for early diagnosis of prescription opioid addiction using genetic engineering, and “Kindly”—an anti-cyberbullying service using AI and Natural Language processing, which is now a UNICEF “Digital Public Good” service available worldwide.

“Being the first recipient of the Stephen Hawking Medal Junior is an absolute honour, but it also comes with a massive responsibility,” said Rao. “I recognize that I am a trailblazer for thousands of young people beyond me who also have the passion to make a difference in our communities, especially girls of colour.”

Garik Israelian, STARMUS co-founder and Director, celebrated this huge step for the Stephen Hawking Medal in approaching younger generations with the Junior Category. “Stephen always shared that he became interested in science being inspired by his professor Dikran Tahta, who opened his eyes to mathematics and changed his life. Since the esteemed STARMUS Advisory Board and Professor Hawking created this Medal in 2015, we all shared the same dream: to inspire the younger generations, serving as a motivational bridge with science through recognizing exceptional contributions in science communications. We’ve awarded such iconic figures of our time such as Jane Goodall, Hans Zimmer, Christopher Nolan, Buzz Aldrin, David Attenborough, Brian May, The Big Bang Theory, Brian Eno among many other internationally renowned figures of science, space, music, and the film industry. It was a natural step for the medal to create a dedicated category for emerging talents who will actually be responsible for the future.”

“The STARMUS Advisory Board chose Gitanjali Rao as the first recipient because of her exceptional talent, dedication to science communication, and her inspiring role as a young innovator” added Professor Israelian. “The Medal reflects not only Stephen Hawking’s amazing dedication to science communication but also the STARMUS spirit. As our dearest Jane Goodall -founder of the Jane Goodall Institute and STARMUS Board member- said, ‘STARMUS brings together people who can link head with heart’.'”

Brian May, Queen lead guitarist and STARMUS cofounder, celebrated the launch of the Stephen Hawking Medal Junior with these words: “We believe this is going to make a difference in the future by encouraging young minds, young artists, young scientists, and young communicators. We hope that the next generation will be inspired to bring art and science even closer together and make this world a better place.”

Celebrating STARMUS’ US Debut at The Kennedy Center

This announcement was made at the STARMUS x Earth To Space event, a two-day program held as part of the Earth To Space Festival at the prestigious Kennedy Center. The event, being held on April 1-2, 2025, featured an impressive lineup of Nobel Prize-winning scientists, astronauts, and explorers, including former NASA astronauts Nicole Stott and Frank Lee Culbertson Jr., Nobel Laureate Kip Thorne and artist Lia Halloran, world-renowned best-selling author Mario Livio, President of the US National Academy of Sciences Marcia McNutt, renowned astrophysicist Eva Villaver, quantum mind reader David Zambuka and SETI pioneer Jill Tarter.

Attendees also enjoyed the spectacular ‘Explosive Universe’ concert by renowned musicians from the STARMUS All Stars, such as Derek Sherinian, Ron ‘Bumblefoot’ Thal, Tony Franklin, and Vinny Appice. This concert was a highlight of the event, showcasing the fusion of science and music that STARMUS is known for. The celebration of the beauty and mystery of the universe promised to be an unforgettable experience for all attendees.

STARMUS has announced its next edition, ‘STARMUS La Palma, The Island of Stars,’ featuring a short preview of the STARMUS La Palma documentary. This event will be held on the island of La Palma from April 25 to 28, 2025, with a focus on protecting the night skies in collaboration with the Starlight Foundation. The program will include STARMUS Talks with over 40 renowned speakers, such as Jane Goodall, Nobel Laureates, astronauts, and other scientific luminaries. The ‘Sonic Universe’ concert will showcase the STARMUS All Stars with special guest Glenn Hughes, Oscar and 15 Latin Grammy winner Jorge Drexler, and the Spanish pop-rock band Efecto Pasillo, among others. Additionally, there will be two STARMUS Camps and the educational project ‘Interscholar,’ aimed at engaging thousands of young students with science, music, and space.”

The event also included the US première of the STARMUS VI film, which showcases the most exciting moments of the 2022 STARMUS Festival in Armenia. This film perfectly captures the essence of STARMUS and the unique STARMUS experience, merging the gathering of the most brilliant minds and talented artists of our time with the local culture.

Linked Videos:

•  This is STARMUS _ LINK

•  The Stephen Hawking Medal _LINK

About STARMUS 

Created by Garik Israelian PhD, astrophysicist at the Institute of Astrophysics of the Canary Islands (IAC) and Sir Brian May PhD, astrophysicist and the lead guitarist of the iconic rock band Queen, Starmus is a festival of science, art and music that features presentations from astronauts, cosmonauts, Nobel Prize winners and prominent figures from various scientific disciplines and musical backgrounds. Starmus brings together Nobel laureates, eminent researchers, astronauts, thinkers and artists to share their knowledge and experiences, as we search for answers to the great questions of our time. 

The STARMUS Advisory Board members are: Jane Goodall, Brian May (co-founder), Garik Israelian (Director and co-founder), Peter Gabriel, Emmanuelle Charpentier, Richard Dawkins, Chris Hadfield, Jill Tarter, Steven Chu, and David Eicher.

Home of the Stephen Hawking Medal 

Stephen Hawking and Alexei Leonov, together with Brian May and Garik Israelian, worked to create the Stephen Hawking Medal for Science Communication in 2015, which is awarded to individuals and teams who have made significant contributions to science communication. Previous Stephen Hawking Medal winners include Dr. Jane Goodall DBE, David Attenborough, Christopher Nolan, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Jean-Michel Jarre, Brian May, Laurie Anderson, and the Apollo 11 documentary. 

For more information visit Starmus.com   

STARMUS Communications   
Brezo Rodríguez  —  brezo@starmus.com   / press@starmus.com  / +34 678 255 196 

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdbUOyYW3Oc
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWDC3G139Y4
Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2656697/STARMUS_Festival.jpg
Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2649772/5249367/STARMUS_Logo.jpg

 

 

 

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/starmus-launches-the-stephen-hawking-medal-junior-at-the-kennedy-center-302418857.html

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Comar Introduces New Glass Ball Tip Dropper Assemblies, Beautiful Enhancements — Drop by Drop

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VOORHEES, N.J., April 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Comar, a trusted U.S. supplier of innovative packaging solutions, proudly introduces its latest product family: Glass Ball Tip Dropper Assemblies. This premium solution combines precision, elegance, and versatility to enhance the application of cosmetic and beauty products.

Designed to deliver both functionality and luxury, Comar’s new Glass Ball Tip Droppers are available in two distinct glass ball tip designs, allowing brands to choose the perfect look and feel for their product lines. With customizable closure colors and optional overshells, clients have endless options to create eye-catching, standout packaging that aligns with their product’s brand identity.

The Bent Ball Tip Dropper Assemblies are available in pipette lengths ranging from 7×50 mm to 7×110 mm; the Straight Ball Tip Dropper Assemblies are available in pipette lengths ranging from 7×34 mm to 7×100 mm, offering compatibility with a wide variety of bottle sizes. This flexibility empowers brands to achieve consistent presentation across their product range while ensuring precise application with each use.

As a leading U.S. supplier, Comar prioritizes dependable service, unwavering product quality, and quicker lead times — enabling customers to bring their products to market faster and with greater confidence.

“Our Glass Ball Tip Dropper Assemblies are designed to meet the growing demand for sophisticated, premium packaging from a domestic supplier in the beauty and cosmetics industry,” said Charles Retif, Senior Product Manager at Comar. “We are excited to offer a solution that combines elegance, precision, and performance to help our customers differentiate their products on the shelf.”

About Comar
Comar, headquartered in Voorhees, NJ, has 11 strategic manufacturing locations and employs a host of plastic molding technologies, including injection molding, injection blow molding, injection stretch blow molding, and extrusion blow molding, which are complemented by a full suite of value-added services. For 75+ years, Comar has partnered with clients to launch high-impact packaging and medical solutions —transforming them from concept to reality, where they can positively impact the world around us. Comar, earning a Silver Medal, ranks among the top 15% of companies assessed by EcoVadis, underscoring its commitment to environmental, social, and ethical responsibility. Comar is majority-owned by Morgan Stanley Capital Partners.

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