France's greentech start-ups boost patents by 40%/ year in a decade, led by batteries & hydrogen

The number of patent families filed by French greentech start-ups rose from around 20 to over 430 between 2014 and 2023, representing an average annual growth rate of nearly 40 per cent, according to a study by the INPI (National Institute of Intellectual Property) published on 17 June 2026, to coincide with the Vivatech 2026 trade fair, which is taking place from 17 to 20 June in Paris.

“This growth reflects the gradual expansion of the greentech ecosystem, with an increasing number of companies taking steps to protect their technology. It also demonstrates the strengthening of the portfolios of companies already active in the sector, with some start-ups continuing to file applications as their technological and industrial development progresses,” according to the INPI.

The study is based on a sample of 2,837 start-ups identified in the Dealroom database and certified by Bpifrance’s Greentech Observatory. It examines the patent filing practices of greentech start-ups, their technological positioning, and the differences in trajectories between companies that file patents and those…