Analysis of Paulownia Tree Related Patents

Paulownia is a general term for plants in the genus Paulownia in the family Scrophulariaceae. It is a deciduous tree, evergreen in tropical regions. It prefers sunlight but is relatively shade-tolerant, thrives in warm climates, and is not very cold-hardy. It adapts well to heavy, poor soils. Young trees grow extremely quickly, making it a fast-growing species. While all species in the genus Paulownia are native to China, they were introduced to Vietnam, Japan, and other parts of Asia long ago. Currently, they are distributed worldwide and have both medicinal and economic value.

This article analyzes and studies global paulownia-related patents, aiming to grasp its technological development trends, major competitors, patent layout, and key patent technologies from a global perspective, and to provide some reference for paulownia-related research in my country.

1. Data Source

Data retrieval and analysis were performed using the PatSnap patent analysis system, with a search date of June 14, 2018. PatSnap collects patents from 103 countries and organizations worldwide, currently containing over 120 million patent documents. The search query for this study was: title=(Paulownia OR paulownia). The search results show 1,120 patent applications related to paulownia globally, of which 232 have been granted.

2. Application Trend Analysis

3. Regional analysis

4. Technical Classification Analysis

From the perspective of the International Patent Classification (IPC) of paulownia-related patents worldwide, the technology field involving paulownia-related patents is most prevalent in medical or cosmetic preparations (A61K), accounting for 30.89% of the total number of paulownia patents, especially those containing algae, mosses, fungi, or plants or their derivatives (A61K36). This is followed by specific therapeutic activities of compounds or pharmaceutical preparations (A61P), animal feed (A23K), specific uses of cosmetic or similar cosmetic preparations (A61Q), fertilizer mixtures (C05G), cultivation techniques (A01G), biocides (A01N), and wood processing or manufacturing of specialty wood products (B27M). In the past five years, the number of applications for paulownia-related patents in the two technology fields of medical or cosmetic preparations and specific therapeutic activities of compounds or pharmaceutical preparations has shown an increasing trend, while the number of patents in other technology fields has remained relatively stable.

5. Analysis of the main applicants

An analysis of applicants for paulownia-related patents shows that Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc. of the United States leads with 73 patents, accounting for 6.52% of the total, demonstrating the company's focus on a global patent portfolio. China's National Forestry Bureau Paulownia Research and Development Center ranks second with 23 patents, all filed domestically. South Korea's Kim Byung-yeon ranks third with 20 patents, all filed domestically. China's Zhenjiang Tianhe Biotechnology Co., Ltd. ranks fourth with 16 patents, all filed domestically. Other applicants have very few paulownia-related patents, all fewer than 15. Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc. prioritizes the US, Chinese, and Australian markets, followed by Canada, South Korea, Europe, and Brazil, highlighting the company's strong emphasis on a global patent portfolio. (Fu Helong)

Source: Forestry Branch of China Engineering Science and Technology Knowledge Center, Intellectual Property Research Center of the State Forestry Administration