The JPO’s launch of The Green Transformation Technologies Inventory (GXTI) in September 2022 reflects the obviously growing importance of climate change-related technological advancement. The latest GXTI survey indicates Japan’s leadership in international Green Energy patents, categorized as “Level 2” in the index.
This announcement is found here on the JPO site
A summary of the JPO’s GXTI 2010 – 2021 survey is found here.
Notable survey highlights are as follows:
- The Level 2 categories in which the number of internationally deployed inventions1 by Japanese applicants2 (in total for 2010-2021) ranks first are; “Solar Photovoltaic Power Generation”, “Fuel Cells”, “Energy Saving in Buildings (ZEB, ZEH, etc.)”, “High-Efficiency Motors and Inverters”, “Electromobilities”, “Secondary Batteries”, “Electric Double Layer Capacitors, Hybrid Capacitors”, and “Measures Against Non-CO2 Greenhouse Gases”. In particular, in the categories of “Solar Photovoltaic Power Generation” and “Fuel Cells”, Japanese applicants are in first place by a margin over European and US applicants.
- While the number of inventions by Chinese applicants ranks first in almost all Level 2 categories, the number of China’s internationally deployed inventions is small, and Japanese, US and European applicants occupy the top three positions.
- In 2019, in terms of the number of inventions, Chinese applicants rank first in all Level 2 categories. In addition, in terms of the number of internationally deployed inventions, in many of the Level 2 categories within the Level 1 category “gxA Energy Supply”, such applicants rank within the top three, replacing Japanese applicants, which has been increasing the presence of Chinese applicants. However, in the Level 2 categories of “Solar Photovoltaic Power Generation”, “Fuel Cells”, “Hydrogen Technology”, and “Ammonia Technology” within the Level 1 category “gxA Energy Supply”, Japanese applicants remain in the top group along with Europe and US.
GXTI Background
Update to September 2022 Kimura article Japan (JPO) Launches Green Transformation Technologies Inventory (GXTI).
In that article, we reported that the JPO’s view that:
“The GXTI is expected to become a useful common asset for companies to make evidence-based analyses of GX technologies based on the patent information and to make necessary disclosures of their climate change-related information. The revision to Japan’s Corporate Governance Code in June 2021 was designed to compel companies listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange New Market Segments to enhance the quality and quantity of their information disclosure related to climate change. In other words, to support companies’ evidence-based accounts of their climate change-related information with a new technologies inventory related to the so-called Green Transformation (GX).”
Recall the GXTI hierarchy:
Level 1 (comprises 6 large categories)
Kimura & Partners writes regularly on notable updates to Japanese IP law and related developments. Our focus is on Patent and Trademark law of relevance to the global SME market seeking strong IP protection in applications and infringement defense. We have a long history of supporting SMEs in Japan, and multi-jurisdictionally, with our unique approach to client relationships and “fighting on the IP Battlefield”.
Japan’s leadership in international Green Energy patents is a significant marker. Both of Japan’s technological inventions, but also their beneficial exploitation globally.
