INPI Publishes 2025 Rankings Highlighting Brazil’s Patent and Trademark Filing Trends

The Brazilian National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI) has unveiled its 2025 intellectual property filing rankings, offering a detailed breakdown of patent and trademark applications segmented by resident and non-resident applicants. This latest data provides valuable insights into where innovation is concentrated, which entities are prioritizing brand protection, and how filing strategies are adapting within Brazil’s dynamic IP environment.

In the non-resident patent category, Huawei leads with 652 filings, representing 3.3% of the total, followed by Qualcomm with 514 filings (2.6%) and Nokia with 308 filings (1.6%). Collectively, the top 50 foreign applicants submitted 6,183 patent applications.

Geographically, companies from the United States constitute 30% of the non-resident patent filers, with China accounting for 20%. Other notable Asian contributors include South Korea (9%) and Japan (7%). European representation is distributed among Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden, and Switzerland, each holding 6% of the European share. Year-over-year trends indicate China’s rising presence at the expense of the U.S., alongside South Korea surpassing Japan in filings.

Sector-wise, Electronics and Information Technology dominate with 27.8% of filings, followed by Chemicals at 14.8%, and Pharmaceuticals at 11.1%.

On the domestic front, the patent rankings show continuity with six of the top ten applicants from 2024 maintaining their positions in 2025. Stellantis Automóveis Brasil leads the resident patent filings with 225 applications, trailed by Petrobras at 172 and Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG) with 94. Notably, seven of the top ten domestic applicants are universities or research institutes, underscoring the significant role of public research institutions in Brazil’s patent landscape.

The top 51 resident applicants collectively filed 1,957 patents, with public entities—universities and research institutes—accounting for 70% of these filings. The leading sectors among residents include automotive, oil and gas, and public research.

Petrobras distinguishes itself not only by volume but also through collaboration, participating in 49 co-filed patents and acting as a nexus connecting major innovation centers nationwide.

In trademark filings, foreign participation is comparatively lower, representing 10.9% of total filings with 3,399 registrations. The trademark applicant base is geographically broader, encompassing 20 countries. The United States leads with 29.4% of foreign trademark filings, followed by South Korea at 7.8%. The top three non-resident trademark applicants are Euro Games Technology (279 filings), Soft Sonic Information Technology (210), and Volkswagen (157).

Key sectors for trademarks include Electronics and IT (13.7%), Pharmaceuticals (10%), and IT Services (9.8%).

Domestic trademark filings reveal a contrasting profile to patents. The ranking is more diverse and service-sector oriented, reflecting an expanding recognition of what constitutes a protectable brand asset. A notable trend is the increasing trademark activity by digital influencers and public figures, who are adopting structured brand protection strategies alongside traditional corporate applicants.

Leading domestic trademark applicants include Payno Gestão Empresarial with 305 filings, Neymar Sport & Marketing at 278, and Banco Mercantil do Brasil with 236. Prominent sectors encompass trade and retail, healthcare, real estate, financial services, and education.

Overall, the 2025 INPI rankings illustrate a dual dynamic in Brazil’s intellectual property landscape. Global technology companies dominate patent filings with growing Asian influence, while domestic innovation is driven largely by universities and public institutions. Trademark activity is more varied and service-driven, with a broad spectrum of companies, entrepreneurs, and public figures actively investing in brand protection.

For businesses operating in Brazil, monitoring filing trends, sectoral shifts, and collaborative patent activity is essential. These insights enable effective benchmarking of IP positioning and identification of competitive risks, reinforcing intellectual property’s role as both an innovation driver and a strategic market tool in Brazil’s evolving economy.