Landscape of biotechnological innovations: analysis of the patent portfolio operating in the Russian Federation for the period from 2005 to 2024

The aim. To conduct a comparative analysis of long-term trends and structural features of patenting in the field of biotechnology at the national and regional levels.

Materials and methods. The study is based on data from two patent offices: the Federal Service for Intellectual Property (Rospatent) and the Eurasian Patent Office (EAPO) for the period from 2005 to 2024. The methodology includes a quantitative analysis of patent applications with classification by applicant countries and industry areas of biotechnology.

Results. It was found that the share of biotechnological patents is 4.68% in Rospatent and 8.33% in EAPO. The phenomenon of strategic duality was revealed: in the Russian Federation, Russian applicants dominate (61% of patents), while in the EAPO their share is only 9%, while non-residents form extensive patent portfolios there. The dynamics of patent activity demonstrates a clear correlation with external factors: an increase in the activity of non-residents in the EAPO after 2014 and a shift in industry priorities in the Russian Federation from medical to industrial biotechnology after 2019. At the same time, domestic patent activity in Rospatent has decreased by 16.5% the last five years.

Conclusion. The results indicate a systemic imbalance: Russia pursues a predominantly internally oriented patent strategy, focusing on the domestic market, and is significantly inferior in the formation of legal positions in the Eurasian space. The predominance of foreign patents in the EAPO creates long-term risks for the competitiveness of Russian developments in the region. The data obtained can be useful in the development of state programs to improve Russia’s competitiveness in the framework of biotechnological areas in the global market.

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