Technology companies Samsung, LG, Qualcomm, Ericsson and ZTE all made the top 10 in terms of the number of patent applications filed with the European Patent Office in 2012.

Samsung filed 2,289 patents in 2012, giving it top spot, with LG in fifth place after filing 1,635 applications. Qualcomm was seventh with 1,381 patent applications, Ericsson ninth with 1,189 and ZTE tenth with 1,184.

ZTE is the first Chinese company to make it into the top 10 of patent applicants with the European Patent Office, rising from forty-third place in 2011.

“Our rapidly growing patent portfolio will help strengthen the company’s position in the European market, and reduce risks of anti-competitive litigations,” said ZTE director of legal affairs, Wang Haibo.

ZTE said today that it had increased its research and development investment by 3 per cent in 2012 to reach CNY9 billion ($1.45 billion). It has spent more than CNY30 billion on R&D over the past four years.

The Chinese vendor expects a large number of its patents to be granted in Europe in 2014 which will generate “very significant competitive and commercial advantages” against competitors in this market.