Patent Flow in Latin America and Its Impact on Health Innovation
- Alma Mater Cosméticos
- Mar 18
- 4 min read
Technological innovation is one of the main drivers of economic development, and intellectual property protection plays a central role in this process. In Latin America, the exchange of patents between countries reflects regional innovation dynamics, investments in research and development (R&D), and the strategic positioning of companies and academic institutions.
The study “Flow of Industrial Property Asset Deposits in Brazil by Latin American Applicants”, published by the Instituto Nacional da Propriedade Industrial - INPI in 2025, provides a detailed analysis of this movement and its impacts on Brazil and Latin America as a whole. In this context, innovation in health and biotechnology stands out as one of the main sectors protected by patents in the region.
Latin American Patents in Brazil: Who Is Protecting Their Innovations?
Between 2002 and 2021, more than 2,400 patent applications were filed in Brazil by Latin American applicants, highlighting the country as a priority destination for innovation protection in the region. Mexico leads this movement, accounting for 31% of applications, followed by Mercosur countries (29%), with Argentina standing out at 24% of applications.
The INPI report highlights that the main sectors of interest for Latin American applicants are chemistry, biotechnology, mechanical engineering, and pharmaceuticals. This data reinforces the central role of health innovation in the region’s technological exchange. Research centers in Argentina, Chile, and Cuba, for example, show strong involvement in biotechnology and pharmaceutical innovation, with a significant number of patent applications focused on new drugs, advanced therapies, and biotechnological inputs.
One of the study’s highlights is the Cuban Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, one of the institutions with the highest number of patent filings in Brazil, mainly in vaccines and biotechnological therapies.
The predominance of chemistry and biotechnology among patent applications reflects the industrial vocation of the region but also points to challenges such as dependence on imported inputs and the need for greater integration between academic research and commercial innovation.
Brazil as a Health Patent Generator in Latin America
While Brazil receives a significant volume of patent filings from Latin American countries, it also stands out as the region’s main innovation generator. The study reveals that Brazilian applicants filed around 2,600 patents in Latin American countries, surpassing the number of patents filed in Brazil by Latin Americans. This reinforces Brazil’s leadership as a regional innovation hub.
The biotechnology and pharmaceuticals sector stands out among Brazilian patent filings in Latin America, focusing on areas such as oncology, vaccines, biopharmaceuticals, and new chemical formulations. Companies such as Natura, Eurofarma, and Fiocruz have positioned themselves as strategic filers, ensuring protection for their innovations in neighboring markets.
Beyond companies, Brazilian academic institutions and research centers play a fundamental role in generating health innovation. Universities such as USP, UFMG, and UFRJ are among the leading filers of biotechnology patents, indicating that Brazil’s research environment is active in creating new health solutions for the region.
Challenges and Opportunities for Health Innovation in Latin America
The INPI study also sheds light on the challenges faced by Latin American countries in expanding their role in global innovation, particularly in health. The main obstacles include:
Low investment in R&D: The biotechnology and health sector requires high investments, but Latin America still struggles to compete globally in this area.
Bureaucracy and delays in patent granting: The average time to obtain a patent is still long in the region, which can delay the commercialization of new health technologies.
Lack of public policies to encourage health innovation: Many Latin American countries still lack robust policies that encourage startups and research institutions to turn their discoveries into protected and marketable innovations.
Dependence on foreign inputs and technologies: Latin America’s ability to produce vaccines, medicines, and innovative therapies is still limited due to a lack of autonomy in producing strategic inputs.
On the other hand, there are positive signs. The increase in patent filings in biotechnology and pharmaceuticals suggests that the region has the potential to become more self-sufficient in producing health innovation. Moreover, regional programs such as PROSUR have been working to bring Latin American intellectual property offices closer together to streamline processes and harmonize regulations, facilitating the exchange of innovation between countries.
The flow of patent filings in Latin America reflects the region’s efforts to gain greater protection for its inventions and recognizes Brazil as a strategic market. While Brazil holds a prominent role in regional innovation, there are still challenges to overcome so that health-related intellectual property becomes a true driver of economic and social development.
The ability to transform academic research into protected and marketable innovation will be crucial for Latin America to reduce its dependence on foreign technologies and strengthen its global leadership. To achieve this, it is essential to strengthen policies that encourage innovation, increase investments in R&D, and enhance integration between companies, universities, and governments.
The Brazilian Health Innovation Institute - IBIS closely monitors these developments and works to strengthen the health innovation ecosystem. If you want to understand more about the impact of intellectual property in the health sector and its importance for Latin America's competitiveness, read the full INPI report and follow our publications.s.
by Marcio de Paula
Brazilian Health Innovation Institute - IBIS
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