Key findings: Exploring the SDGs through patents

As we navigate the complex interplay between technological advancement and global sustainability, SDG-to-patent mapping serves as a valuable tool in taking a more informed and strategic approach to innovation. This study illustrates the state of technology development across the SDGs and highlights growth trends in SDG-related patents.

13 out of the 17 SDGs are represented by patents. SDG-related patenting is growing, and at increasing speed. Almost 1 in 3 inventions are related to the SDGs (31.4% of active patent families worldwide). SDG 9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, leads in terms of the highest number of patents (2.9m active patent families), showcasing the expansive scope of the SDGs, and the diverse technology landscape within this field. Encompassing electronics, manufacturing, and materials, these broad technology areas are heavily patented, thus prominently featured in the analysis.

Unlocking patent potential: the SDGs surging towards high-growth

Whereas SDG 9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, is notably the largest field in terms of the number of SDG-related patents, with substantial growth over the past 20 years from under 10% to about 20% of all active patents globally, SDG 13 Climate Action and SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy show slightly stronger upward trends compared to most other SDGs. SDG 13 focuses on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, while SDG 7 centers on renewable energy. This trend reflects a growing awareness and consumer preference for cleaner alternatives. It is worth noting here that whilst ‘green’ technologies are an integral of the SDGs, they are not the sole focus. While tackling climate change and working to preserve our oceans and forests, the SDGs more broadly recognize that ending poverty and other deprivations must go hand-in-hand with strategies that improve health and education, reduce inequality, and spur economic growth.

What’s trending and what’s emerging?

The relative technology maturity of each SDG from a patent perspective can be assessed using an Innovation Maturity Matrix, which categorizes all SDG-related patents according to their respective SDGs alongside their respective recency – a measure of how recently the SDG-related patent applications were filed.
The Innovation Maturity Matrix for SDG-related patents highlights SDG 9 Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, SDG 13 Climate Action, SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy and SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production as current hot topics, meaning they have a large number of patents and strong growth in recent years.
The Innovation Maturity Matrix is a powerful indicator to show emerging areas where the absolute number of patents is much lower, but there is a strong recent growth. In this case, the matrix clearly shows that, from a patent perspective, there is emerging interest in SDG 1 No Poverty, SDG 04 Quality Education, SDG 6 Clean Water and Sanitation, SDG 14 Life Below Water and SDG 15 Life on Land.