Arquivos do Mês: August 2025

A survey conducted by Nexus – Research and Data Intelligence, based on information from the Brazilian Patent and Trademark Office (BPTO), revealed the sectors with the highest number of patent applications related to Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Brazil over the last six years.

According to the study, healthcare (25%), industry (14.4%), and agribusiness (8.3%) led the way in filings between 2019 and 2024, out of a total of 264 applications analyzed.

Despite the growing interest, only 3% (8 applications) have been granted so far. Most applications remain under review or have not been approved.

Evolution of AI Patent Applications

The period of greatest activity was between 2020 and 2022:

• 2020: 64 filings
• 2021: 77 filings
• 2022: 78 filings (peak)

Starting in 2023, a significant decline was observed, with only 13 applications registered.

Of the patents granted, five were from Brazilian authors, two from Americans, and one from China. The average review time was approximately 2 years and 11 months.

Connection with the National IP Strategy

The National Intellectual Property Strategy (ENPI), in its 2023-2025 Action Plan, set a goal of reducing patent examination time in Brazil.

• In December 2022, the average was 6.9 years;
• The target is 3 years by June 2025;
• And from 2 years to 2026.

This acceleration is seen as essential to keep up with the dynamics of innovation in disruptive areas such as artificial intelligence.

Main areas of application of AI in patents

Healthcare

• cancer diagnosis,
• insulin measurement,
• improved teleconsultations,
• prediction of heart problems,
• motor rehabilitation,
• hospital waiting list management.

Industry

• predictive maintenance,
• machine learning applied to productivity,
• worker safety,
• quality inspection,
• production of plastic and simulated food.

Agribusiness

• animal monitoring,
• grain classification,
• pest control.

Other notable sectors include energy (7.9%), finance and sales (7.9%), AI systems development (6%), telecommunications (5.7%), and mobility (5.7%).

Filing Profile

The study shows that 59.8% of applications are from Brazil and 40.5% are from abroad. The United States leads the international field (57.9%), followed by China (23.6%) and South Korea (4.7%).

Among the companies, the following stand out:

• Huawei (China): 18 filings
• Petrobras (Brazil): 8 filings
• AIxScan (USA, healthcare): 5 filings
• Paige (USA, healthcare): 5 filings

In Brazil, federal universities (such as UFMG, USP, Unicamp, UFPE, among others) are among the main filers, demonstrating the role of academia in the production of knowledge and technological innovation.

What the scenario reveals

The survey highlights not only the diversity of AI applications in Brazil, but also the international competition for the Brazilian market, with strong participation from companies in the United States and China.

“Although some Brazilian institutions stand out, the significant participation of foreign companies shows how the United States and China have worked to dominate the Brazilian market in this technology,” highlighted Marcelo Tokarski, CEO of Nexus.

At Tavares IP, we closely monitor intellectual property developments in emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence. Our team is available to assist companies and institutions seeking to protect their innovations in Brazil.

Contact us

The Administrative Council for Economic Defense (CADE) has published the study “CADE’s Contributions: Standard Essential Patents”, which analyzes the strategic role of Standard Essential Patents (SEPs) and their competitive impacts in highly technological sectors such as telecommunications, consumer electronics, the automotive industry, and IoT.

Released in early August, the document remains highly relevant by placing Brazil in the global debate on SEPs — a topic already consolidated in jurisdictions such as China, Japan, South Korea, and the United States.

The study highlights critical points:

• The absence of specific regulation in Brazil.
• Risks of anticompetitive practices;
• And the challenges of harmonization in international disputes.

At Tavares IP, we closely follow these discussions because SEPs are at the core of innovation and international competitiveness. Understanding their evolution is essential for companies seeking to invest in and protect cutting-edge technologies in Brazil.

Read CADE’s full report here: Contribuições-do-Cade-Patentes-Essenciais.pdf

On August 11, BPTO’s President Júlio César Moreira and Luo Wen, Minister of China’s State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR), met to discuss bilateral cooperation on Geographical Indications (GIs). This initiative follows the memorandum of understanding signed in May this year, which sets out actions to enhance mutual GI protection, combat counterfeiting, promote information exchange, and organize joint events and training activities.

The Brazil–China partnership seeks to expand the protection of recognized GIs in both countries, fostering the value of origin-based products and boosting international trade. Currently, Brazil has 149 GIs registered with BPTO, while China has 2,861 protected products.

The Brazilian Patent and Trademark Office (BPTO) has announced updates to the Industrial Design and Geographical Indication Guidelines, effective as of August 8, 2025. These changes follow the implementation of the new Fee Schedule established by INPI/PR Ordinance No. 10/2025, and include a new discount policy and the replacement of traditional paper copies with digital copies, modernizing and streamlining procedures. An exception applies to the priority claim process in industrial design applications, where official paper copies may still be requested.

These updates aim to improve procedural efficiency and align Brazil’s industrial property system with modern, sustainable practices. For further details, stakeholders can access the Industrial Design Guidelines Updates and Geographical Indication Guidelines Updates directly on BPTO’s website.