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ANNUAL REPORT 2024

The number of applications continued to increase

The number of national patent applications continued to increase. The number of applications increased significantly in Savo, Uusimaa and Southwest Finland.

There was also an increase in the number of international PCT applications processed at the PRH.

Patent customers value high-quality reviews and information on when the PRH’s review will be complete. For that reason the PRH has made a service promise on the completion time of its searches. In addition, customers in need of rapid patent application examination are offered accelerated processing. This year, we were below the processing time targets set for novelty searches and patentability examinations.

Increase in the number of national patent applications

The number of national patent applications increased. In 2024, they totalled 1,829 compared to 1,745 in 2023.


Finalised national patent applications

The number of finalised national patent applications increased. In 2024, the PRH processed 1,669 applications compared to 1,561 in 2023.


Processed PCT applications (PCT/RO)

There was a slight increase in the number of international PCT applications processed at the PRH. In 2024, they totalled 770 compared to 733 in 2023.


Conducted novelty searches (PCT/ISA)

The number of conducted novelty searches decreased slightly. In 2024, they totalled 182 compared to 208 in 2023.


European patents validated in Finland (EPO)

The number of European patents validated in Finland decreased. In 2024, they totalled 3,248 compared to 3,894 in 2023.


Finalised utility model applications

The number of finalised utility model applications decreased. In 2023, the PRH processed 187 applications compared to 250 in 2023.

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New application service in progress

The development of online services continued with the promotion of the new patent application service. Launched in March 2025, the browser-based service replaces Epoline Online Filing (eOLF).

During the year, the patent information service was developed on the basis of customer feedback by making changes to the SPC information service and updating the search criteria.

We participated in the Patent Act reform project

We were actively involved in a legislative project to reform patent law. The comprehensive reform of patent legislation is one of the 15 measures recorded in the national IPR strategy. One of the objectives of the strategy is to have a functioning and competitive IPR system in Finland in 2030, which will take into account the needs of private and public sector actors, individuals and the data economy.

The In­dus­trial Prop­erty At­tor­ney Board cel­e­brated its 10th an­niver­sary

The In­dus­trial Prop­erty At­tor­ney Board, which op­er­ates in con­nec­tion with the PRH, cel­e­brated its tenth an­niver­sary in July.

The In­dus­trial Prop­erty At­tor­ney Board is re­spon­si­ble for au­tho­ris­ing and main­tain­ing a reg­is­ter of at­tor­neys car­ry­ing out in­tel­lec­tual prop­erty man­dates. The Board or­gan­ises at­tor­ney ex­am­i­na­tions and su­per­vises com­pli­ance with the statu­tory oblig­a­tions of au­tho­rised at­tor­neys.

The leg­is­la­tion pro­tects the use of cer­tain pro­fes­sional ti­tles that may only be used by au­tho­rised at­tor­neys. These in­clude patent at­tor­ney, trade­mark at­tor­ney, de­sign at­tor­ney, and in­dus­trial prop­erty at­tor­ney. The use of pro­fes­sional ti­tles re­quires that the per­son has com­pleted the rel­e­vant ex­am­i­na­tion and has been en­tered in the reg­is­ter of at­tor­neys. The use of the in­dus­trial prop­erty at­tor­ney ti­tle re­quires that the per­son has com­pleted a patent, trade­mark, and de­sign rights ex­am­i­na­tion.

Dur­ing its ten years of op­er­a­tion, the Board has or­gan­ised eight qual­i­fi­ca­tions. Dur­ing this pe­riod, 112 can­di­dates have suc­cess­fully com­pleted the com­mon part of the ex­am­i­na­tion, 50 have suc­cess­fully com­pleted the patent law part, 35 have suc­cess­fully com­pleted the trade­mark law part, and 5 can­di­dates have suc­cess­fully com­pleted the de­sign rights part.

The Board has pre­pared guide­lines on good at­tor­ney prac­tice. The In­dus­trial Prop­erty At­tor­ney Board may is­sue a warn­ing to an au­tho­rised at­tor­ney or also with­draw the au­tho­ri­sa­tion.

Read more:

The Industrial Property Attorney Board