Polish innovators top European patent applicants in CEE

Polish Information and Foreign Investment Agency informed on Thursday that Poland submitted the largest number of patent applications in 2014 compared with other central and eastern european countries. In years 2006-2013, the innovation index has been increasing in Poland faster than the EU average, PAIiIZ also said. Last year, Polish innovators sent 475 applications to the European Patent Office (EPO). The Czechs ranked second in the region with 167 applications. As much as 75 percent of patents valid in Poland have been issued by the EPO. Majority of them belongs to foreign entities active in Poland, PAIiIZ also pointed out. Thanks to the EPO, Polish products are protected in 38 European countries.