Italy is among the first places in Europe in patents for the transition to hydrogen, especially the 'green' one, i.e. from non-fossil sources.
As stated in a recent joint study conducted by the European Patent Office (EPO) and the International Energy Agency (IEA), our country, in terms of global patents, is the fifth most innovative in Europe in energy technologies. 'hydrogen, considered essential to combat climate change, behind Germany, France, the Netherlands and Denmark.
Furthermore, in the period 2011-2020, 70% of all patents on hydrogen from Italy are linked to green technologies and attentive to the impact on the climate.
The study takes into consideration the patents registered worldwide between 2011 and 2020 in the whole range of technologies related to the
The world ranking of patents on hydrogen technologies sees the European Union (28% of the total) and Japan (24%) in first place, while the United States with 20% are in third place.
While hydrogen patents have grown in Europe and Japan over the past decade, they have declined in the United States.
International patenting activity in hydrogen technologies has remained modest (although currently increasing) in South Korea and China.
"Exploiting the potential provided by hydrogen is a key element of the European strategy to achieve climate neutrality by 2050," said António Campinos, President of the European Patent Office.
"But if we want the
hydrogen plays an important role in reducing CO2 emissions and combating climate change, it is urgently necessary to innovate a wide range of technologies.
The study reveals some encouraging transition patterns between countries and industry sectors, including Europe's major contribution to the emergence of new hydrogen technologies.
It also highlights the innovative contribution of start-ups in hydrogen-related technologies and their reliance on patents to bring these inventions to market."