China is outpacing the world in patent filings: China now accounts for ~27% of global patent applications, the highest of any other country in the world. This percentage has DOUBLED over the last 11 years. Over the same period, the US' contribution has fallen -9 percentage points, to 20%, the lowest since at least the 1980s. At the same time, Germany’s percentage has declined -3 points, to 6%, also the lowest since at least the 1980s. Japan’s percentage has held steady at ~18%, the world’s 3rd-largest. China is leading the global patent race.