In 2007 the largest shares of international PCT patent applications have been taken by Computer technology 6.6%, Medical technology 6.4%, Biotechnology 6.0%, Telecommunications 5.7%, Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy 4.9%, Macromolecular chemistry, polymers 4.7%, Measurement 4.3%, Control 3.7%, Digital communication 3.5%, and Transport 3.4%. From 2000 to 2007 the technologies that witnessed the fastest increase in applications have been Micro-structural and nano-technology 25.8%, Semiconductors 15.4% , Computer technology 13.8%, Digital communication 13.4%, Optics 12.6%, Thermal processes and apparatus 12.4%, Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy 11.9%, Transport 10.8%, Furniture, games 10.7%, and Biotechnology 10.6%.

Patent applications favour leading edge fields such as Computer technology (6.6% of total applications in 2007), Medical technology, Biotechnology and Telecommunications (median = 2.74%, orange horizontal line).
The technologies of the future may well be those where the average growth of filed applications is higher: Micro-structural and nano-technology (25.8% between 2000 and 2007), Semiconductors, Computer technology and Digital communication (median = 9.78%, orange vertical line).

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