At the forefront of Spanish patent activity is HERRERO & ASOCIADOS, which leads the market with nearly 4,700 filings over five years, serving a healthy mix of domestic and international clients. Notably, 55% of their work comes from foreign applicants, with a strong focus on PCT and PCT-based filings.

PONS PATENTES Y MARCAS, BALDER IP, UNGRIA PATENTES Y MARCAS, and ABG INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY round out the top five, each exceeding 2,000 filings. While HERRERO & ASOCIADOS sets the pace, these other firms bring diverse strengths; some with higher domestic representation, others excelling in PCT-based filings or offering broad European reach.

Interestingly, firms such as ARPE PATENTES Y MARCAS and SILEX IP CONSULTING (Silex IP now integrated into PONS IP since May 2024) serve a heavily foreign client base, with over 90% of their filings originating from abroad, indicating their strength as trusted partners for inbound international protection from both applicants and partner firms.

This mix of high-volume firms and foreign-specialized boutiques reflects the maturity and diversity of Spain’s patent services market.

There is clear growth in the region, with some key firms posting impressive growth numbers over the 2019-2023 period. Here are some of the Spanish rising stars making significant increases:

• BALDER IP saw significant momentum, increasing its annual output by 93%, thanks to strong growth in 2022 and 2023.
• ARPE PATENTES Y MARCAS posted the most dramatic rise (+205%), signaling successful business development or key client acquisitions.
• PADIMA, AGENTES DE LA PROPIEDAD INDUSTRIAL, also recorded a strong upward trend of 88%, carving out a space in a highly competitive market.
• INGENIAS saw a 98% rise from 2019-2023, and with 42% of this coming from foreign filings and 61% from PCT, it clearly shows a strong, balanced approach to their strategy.

Meanwhile, several long-established leaders such as UNGRIA, ZBM PATENTS, and CLARKEMODET have maintained a strong presence in the market. Their enduring reputations and deep-rooted expertise continue to make them go-to firms for complex filings.

At the same time, this evolving landscape is also creating new opportunities for mid-sized and emerging firms to grow, particularly those offering niche specialization, personalized service, or innovative approaches to client engagement.

Spain remains an attractive destination for international filings, particularly from non-EU jurisdictions. The top sending countries include:

• United States – The largest contributor, with nearly 2,000 filings, demonstrating continued U.S. interest in protecting IP across Europe.
• China – 1,477 filings underscore China’s growing global IP footprint and strategic interest in Spanish markets.
• Germany, South Korea, Netherlands, and Italy round out the top senders, emphasizing strong EU and Asia-Pacific engagement.

This high level of inbound activity reflects Spain’s importance as an EU gateway for global innovators and a preferred jurisdiction for regional patent protection.

Spanish firms are increasingly supporting domestic clients in securing IP abroad. Top destinations include:

• United States – With 3,654 filings, the U.S. remains the primary target for Spanish outbound filings.
• China, Japan, Canada, Mexico, and Brazil – These fast-growing markets represent Spain’s expanding global reach, particularly across the Americas and Asia.

Spain’s outbound filings also show strong momentum in emerging economies, signaling the rising international ambitions of Spanish companies and research institutions.

Spain’s filing activity spans a wide array of technology sectors. The most active areas from 2019 to 2023 were:

• Medical Technology (3,819 filings): Reflecting sustained investment in healthcare and medical device innovation.
• Pharmaceuticals (3,424 filings): A standout sector with 43% growth over the period.
• Biotechnology (2,210 filings): Up 45%, driven by growth in research institutions and health-tech startups.
• Electrical Machinery, Apparatus, and Energy (2,511 filings): Tied to clean energy efforts and smart infrastructure projects.
• Handling, Transport, and Civil Engineering (8,225 filings combined): Shows Spain’s continued focus on infrastructure, mobility, and logistics.

These trends align with national R&D priorities and public investment strategies, especially in life sciences, mobility, and digital transformation.

While high-volume sectors command attention, growth trends reveal the next wave of opportunity:

• Macromolecular Chemistry & Polymers (+69%)
• Basic Materials Chemistry (+53%)
• Biotechnology (+45%)
• Organic Fine Chemistry (+40%)
• Pharmaceuticals (+43%)

These increases suggest a shift toward more complex, materials-intensive innovation, spanning packaging, bioplastics, chemicals, and drug delivery technologies.

Environmental technologies and medical diagnostics are also growing, supported by both public funding and global market demand.

Some traditional sectors saw decreases that may point to market saturation, offshoring, or changing R&D strategies:

• Textile & Paper Machinery (–20%)
• Telecommunications (–30%)
• Control Systems (–19%)
• Analysis of Biological Materials (–21%)
• Microstructure & Nanotech (–48%)

While not necessarily disappearing, these areas may require renewed innovation or specialization to regain momentum.

For law firms considering Spain as part of their international strategy, this report offers several actionable insights to guide business development, partnership building, and market entry decisions.

1. Partner Identification & Collaboration Opportunities

Spain’s top prosecution firms range from long-established players to fast-growing boutiques. For foreign firms looking to extend their service coverage in Europe or seeking local filing representation, this data can help you:

• Identify complementary partners with expertise in specific technical fields (e.g., pharma, biotech, energy).
• Choose firms with strong foreign filing experience, such as ARPE PATENTES Y MARCAS, which already support a majority of international clients.
• Spot rising firms like BALDER IP or PADIMA AGENTES DE LA PROPIEDAD INDUSTRIAL, whose growth signals client satisfaction and operational scalability.

Firms can approach these local players for referral agreements, co-counsel models, or even joint marketing to cross-serve clients.

2. Client Development: Where Demand Lies

Patent activity in Spain is concentrated in:

• Life sciences (pharmaceuticals, medical technology, biotechnology)
• Advanced chemistry and materials
• Clean energy and electrical systems

Firms with clients in these sectors should consider Spain as a priority jurisdiction for filings or enforcement strategy, particularly for European SMEs and startups scaling internationally.

3. Optimizing Filing Routes

With a strong showing in PCT-based applications, Spain is a cost-effective and efficient jurisdiction for regional protection. The data shows that firms like HERRERO & ASOCIADOS, BALDER IP, and ABG INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY are well-versed in handling these filings.

For firms advising clients on global portfolio strategy, Spain can be presented as:

• A cost-efficient EU gateway
• A jurisdiction with strong enforcement infrastructure
• A market with reliable IP firms for long-term prosecution support

4. Outbound Opportunities for Growth

The outbound filing data reveals that Spanish firms are actively filing into the U.S., China, Japan, Canada, and Latin America. This creates room for mutual referrals and reciprocal filing support with firms based in those countries.

International law firms can position themselves as:

• Filing partners for Spanish firms’ clients seeking protection abroad
• Trainers or tech-transfer advisors for Spain’s growing innovation hubs and universities

Spain’s patent prosecution landscape from 2019 to 2023 tells a story of growth, global integration, and strategic repositioning. With strong players like HERRERO & ASOCIADOS, PONS PATENTES Y MARCAS, and BALDER IP leading the market, and new challengers on the rise, the competitive environment is rich with opportunity.

At the same time, Spain’s role as both an inbound and outbound patent hub underlines its importance in global IP strategies. Whether you’re a multinational entering Europe or a Spanish innovator eyeing global markets, the local patent ecosystem offers deep technical expertise and a broad reach.