Peru in the top five of female inventors with international patent applications

The development of science does not stop. The Peruvian female researchers’ contributions are internationally recognized. Find out more in this note.

There is no better adjective to describe Peruvians: creative. Even in adversity, ingenuity is the source for creating solutions. Everything starts from observation. Not in vain it is the first step of the scientific method since the development does not stop. In that respect, Peru continues to reap awards: it is the fifth country in the world with the highest percentage of female inventors in international patent applications filed through the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), according to statistics from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). 

In 2021, the 28.8% of inventors identified in PCT applications processed by individuals, companies, universities, and research centers are women; well above the 17%, which is the global average. Costa Rica leads the list with 29%; Portugal with 34%; the Philippines with 37.7%; and Cuba with 52.9%. Analyzing the same indicator, the participation of Peruvian women has had a significant growth: international patent applications were 10.8% in 2019, and 23.3% in 2020. 

At the continental level, Peru is followed by Chile with 26% (place 8); Argentina with 24% (place 14); Colombia with 23% (place 19); Brazil with 22% (place 21); Mexico with 21% (place 23); the United States with 16% (place 41) and Canada with 14% (place 48). The PCT statistics include a total of 74 countries where information on the use of this international scheme for the protection of inventions is available. Peru has been a member since 2009 and allows innovators and inventors the possibility of applying for patents in up to 155 countries, complying with certain requirements and procedures. 

At a local level, there is also good news: national patent applications by women grew to 41% in 2021. According to the Andina agency, in the ranking of Peruvian female inventors who filed patent applications with Indecopi, Evelyn Rondón Jara is placed first with 22 applications; Karen Cuba Vargas follows with 18 applications; and Ruth Aracelis Manzanares Grados with 10 patent applications. 

The Inventions and New Technologies Directorate (DIN) of Indecopi has carried out various actions in recent years to promote the approach of women to the protection of research and innovation, as well as to bear greater interest on the part of girls in this area. Moreover, since 2019, Indecopi has encouraged the participation of Peruvian female inventors in the Korea International Women's Invention Exposition (KIWIE). "That year, Peru was represented with the inventions of three women; in 2020 with 18 inventions comprising 30 women; and in 2021 with 34 inventions comprising 49 women," reports the news agency.

Women continue to make their way into all industries. News like this only makes us proud and continues to foster participatory environments with equity.