Valeo remains the leading French patent applicant at the European Patent Office

This represents a significant 20.1% increase compared with 2024, according to the EPO Technology Dashboard 2025 published today. Ranked first among all French companies across all technology fields, Valeo demonstrates the strength and relevance of its innovation strategy and global patent portfolio. This latest recognition comes shortly after the Group was named among the LexisNexis Top 100 Global Innovators 2026.

These distinctions highlight the central role of innovation in Valeo’s strategy and its commitment to developing technologies that are shaping the future of mobility. Valeo focuses on key technological domains, including electrification and thermal management, software-defined vehicles, advanced driver assistance systems, and smart lighting.

Christophe Le Ligné, Valeo Group Research & Development Vice President, said: “Being once again the leading French patent applicant at the European Patent Office reflects the depth of Valeo’s innovation culture and the outstanding commitment of our teams worldwide. This recognition, together with the recent LexisNexis distinction, highlights the strength and relevance of our patent portfolio and our ability to bring breakthrough technologies to market. At Valeo, innovation is at the heart of our mission to make mobility more electrified, safer and software-defined.”

Valeo dedicates approximately 10.9% of its annual sales to R&D, representing around €2.3 billion in 2025. With more than 32,000 active patents and a global network of 59 R&D centers, the Group develops and deploys its innovations worldwide.

The patents filed by Valeo’s R&D teams notably focus on technologies designed to:

• improve the performance and efficiency of electric mobility solutions, notably through battery cooling systems, rare-earth-free electric motors and thermal management expertise;
• expand driving assistance and software-based capabilities, with innovations in sensors, cleaning systems, automated parking and software protection;
• enhance road safety through next-generation smart lighting systems capable of adapting to their environment and communicating with other road users.

As highlighted by the EPO, France continues to excel in innovation, particularly in the transport sector, which remains the country’s leading field of innovation. Valeo is ranked first among French companies in the national innovation ranking at the EPO. This performance highlights Valeo’s leading role in developing cutting-edge mobility solutions, with a strategy that prioritizes the most promising inventions and ensures broad geographic protection.

A Record-Breaking Year for European Innovation

The EPO Technology Dashboard 2025 reveals a historic milestone, with patent applications reaching a record high of 201,974, a 1.4% increase over the previous year. This growth was primarily driven by digital technologies and clean energy innovations. Within this dynamic landscape, France maintains its strong position as the second-largest European contributor and the sixth-largest globally, accounting for 5.4% of all applications filed at the EPO.