Telefónica leads the rankings for European patent filings made by Spanish companies and institutions last year, with 114 out of a total 2,476. The filings were made across a wide range of sectors, including pharmaceuticals, chemistry, biotechnology, communications and transportation.

The European Patent Office (EPO) reported that patent filings made during 2013 reached a new all-time high, rising 2.8% to 266,000, in its annual report presented in Brussels.

By company, Telefónica leads the rankings in Spain with 114 patent filings, followed by the Spanish National Research Council CSIC, pharmaceutical company Laboratorios Esteve, solar power leader Abengoa, the university Universidad Autónoma de Barcelona and drug company Almirall, among others. With 2,476 filings Spain ranks ninth among European countries and 14th overall.

According to the EPO the Spanish filings are concentrated in the fields of pharmaceuticals, organic fine chemistry, biotechnology, digital communications and transportation. Highlighted within this diverse portfolio are analysis of biological materials (biotech company Certest Biotec, university hospital Fundació Hospital Universitari Vall d’Hebron and healthcare foundation Fundación Pública Andaluza Progreso y Salud), products from pharmaceutical firms (Esteve, Galenicum Almirall, Oryzon) and thermal processes/devices (Abengoa, BSH, Coprecitec, Soler & Palau Research).