IP Spotlight - December 2025

A report published by the European Patent Office, [4] shows patent filings in space-related sectors grew four-fold from approximately 500 patent families[5] in 2007 to over 2,000 in 2017. More recent data from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) reveals even stronger growth: From 2000 to 2023, global patent families in space technologies exceeded 67,000, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8% overall and 15% from 2010 to 2023[6]. This acceleration reflects the rise of private companies and intensified international competition. American patent applicants are also active internationally, accounting for around 32% of European patent filings in this sector.[7] Traditional Aerospace vs. Emerging Players For decades, patent activity in the U.S. space sector was dominated by aerospace companies who focused on propulsion, spacecraft control, and structural technologies.[8]

THE COMMERCIAL SPACE BOOM The global space sector is skyrocketing, experiencing explosive growth as a second space race unfolds. Once dominated by government-led missions, the modern space race is now fuelled by private enterprise, venture capital, and bold innovation. Space is now big business with estimates the global space sector globally is valued at a record $613 billion in 2024, and projections it could exceed US$1 trillion by 2040[1], according to Morgan Stanley. Behind this surge lies an equally aggressive race to protect intellectual property (IP). The global patent filing activity in the field of space-related technologies (or cosmonautics) reveals a rapid rise in commercialisation activity in this domain since 2010, growing from a base of approximately 200 new patent family filings each year between 1990 and 2010, and a rapid rise of approximately 2200 patent filings per year between 2010 and 2017. CONTENDER Australia is not taking a back seat in this race. With its remote geographic location, clear skies for launches, highly educated workforce, and open regulatory regime, Australia holds key comparative advantages that position it favourably for space-related investment.[2] In response, the Australian government has established a Space Infrastructure Fund and set an ambitious target aimed at building an Australian space industry worth A$12 billion per annum by 2030.[3] While Australia still lags global leaders in patent filings, its trajectory is upward, and its startups are making bold moves on the global stage. AUSTRALIA’S LAUNCHPAD: A RISING WHO’S LEADING THE INNOVATION SPACE RACE? United States: Still the Innovation Powerhouse Backed by the world’s largest civil space budget (over US$20 billion annually), the United States continues to lead global space patent activity.

Top players included:

Boeing Lockheed Martin Honeywell Raytheon Aerojet Rocketdyne

The EPO report predates the prominence of players like SpaceX and Blue Origin, but updated analysis[7]from the US Patent and Trade Mark Office and our own analysis of the cosmonautics subject matter classification (IPC and CPC code B64G) and selected sub-categories[9] shows the US patent landscape continues to grow, with 17,000 patent families from 2000 to 2023. Recent trends do indicate a minor slowdown, with a CAGR of 1.4% from 2000–2019 dropping to – 1.1% from 2020–2023, however, small businesses, universities, and nonprofit organisations now account for over 40% of US space patents, up from historical levels, with 16% receiving federal support – seven times the national average[10].

23 | wrays.com.au