Trend analysis of AI+ gene sequencing patent technology

Artificial intelligence (AI) technology has been deeply applied and widely valued in the field of gene sequencing. Based on 46,722 <?A3B2 pi129?>global AI+ gene sequencing-related patents retrieved from the IncoPat patent database covering the period from 2005 <?A3B2 pi129?>to 2025, this paper systematically analyzes patent application development trends, regional distribution characteristics, major innovative entities, and key technological branches in this domain. The study reveals that AI+ sequencing patent applications have experienced three distinct phases: the embryonic stage, the development stage, and the rapid growth stage, maintaining strong momentum in rapid expansion currently. In terms of technological origins, China and the United States represent the two dominant sources, each accounting for approximately 40% of global output. Regarding patent filing destinations, China holds the highest proportion (39%), followed by the United States, while a considerable number of patents enter major global markets through the PCT route. Among the top twenty applicants, the American company Illumina ranks first in application volume, while only one Chinese enterprise, BGI Genomics, appears in this leading group. Technologically, disease diagnosis constitutes the largest branch (exceeding 50%), followed by sequencing methodology improvements (25%), with auxiliary drug development, biological trait prediction, and other applications occupying relatively smaller shares. Through comparative analysis of patent distribution patterns between China and the United States, this paper identifies both opportunities and challenges confronting China’s AI+ sequencing industry. Opportunities include: China’s patent application volume has surpassed that of the United States since 2020, indicating accelerated domestic substitution progress; professional technical talent reserves have exceeded those of the United States since 2019, with the gap continuing to widen. Challenges encompass: Chinese patent applications predominantly focus on domestic filing, with PCT applications representing merely approximately 3% and overseas deployment remaining weak; applicants are predominantly universities (with only BGI Genomics among the top ten being an enterprise), indicating relatively lagging transformation and commercialization of research achievements, as evidenced by low patent transfer rates (4.88%), licensing rates (0.67%), and industry-academia joint application ratios (4.16%). Furthermore, the field faces increasingly stringent legal compliance risks concerning genetic resource protection, personal privacy, and cross-border data flows. Based on the aforementioned analysis, this paper proposes five development recommendations: strengthening policy guidance and reinforcing core technology breakthroughs; completing both domestic and international intellectual property protection chains; promoting industry-academia collaboration and leveraging enterprises as the dominant innovation force; optimizing interdisciplinary talent mechanisms; and enhancing supervision and management while establishing graded management approaches. <alternatives id="alt1"> </alternatives>