According to WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization), since 2010 the number of annual PCT patent applications from Vietnam has never exceeded 50. There were five applications in 2010, while the highest figure, 40, was seen in 2020. In 2023, Vietnam had 27 applications. 

The figures are much lower than in other regional countries, especially Singapore, which has had 1,000 PCT applications for patents a year since 2018, and Thailand, which has had 100 applications since 2020. 

China, in 2010-2023, increased patent applications seven times. Since 2019, it has been the country with the highest number of applications, accounting for one fourth of PCT applications worldwide.

Of the countries with average income, Vietnam stands among the group with the lowest numbers of PCT patent applications from businesses, and it lacks applications from universities, research organizations and government organizations.

As such, the number of applications from businesses accounts for 36 percent, lower than the global average of 87.6 percent in 2022 (it has always been over 85 percent since 2013).

Under the national science and technology development strategy, the number of patent applications should be seen as an important criterion and target for science and technology organizations using the state budget.

Regarding the proportion of patent applications, it is necessary to set targets for the growth rate in patents from businesses and come closer to the world’s average. In addition, increasing the number of patents from universities and government’s research organizations should also be a goal.

Analysts point out that the budget for science and technology development in Vietnam is low, just 0.5 percent of GDP, much lower than China’s 2.5 percent, the leading country in number of patents worldwide.

Scientists believe that major changes need to be made in using the state budget effectively as ‘bait’ capital to stimulate the society’s investment, especially investment from businesses in research and creating patents.

NOIP (National Office of Intellectual Property) reported that in 2023, the number of patent applications in Vietnam rose by 10.6 percent and the number of industrial design applications by 11.8 percent.

The agency showed that in 2023, it received 156,000 applications for establishing industrial property rights of different types, up 11 percent over the year before. These included 84,000 applications for establishing industrial property rights (+8.5 percent) and other applications/requirements (14.1 percent). 

Pham Quang Vinh