IoT patent applications skyrocketed in 2016

The European Patent Office (EPO) received roughly 5,000 Internet of Things (IoT) patent applications in 2016, the World Economic Forum Agenda reported. That equals 54% more than those received over the past three years. Manufacturing, agriculture, health, transport and other sectors have already been affected by IoT, and more applications are expected, as anywhere between 26 and 30 billion smart objects are anticipated to gain access to the average home and workplace by 2025.