L’Oreal is the leading player in the nanotechnology field in cosmetics currently, leading the race with the 15 patents submitted followed by Elan Corp with 12. However, it is not Europe that is leading the way in the growth of patent applications, but the USA and the Far East. So far in the health and personal care areas of nanotechnology, the USA has filed 380 patent applications followed by 141 from China. Germany has the highest in Europe with a total of 38 applications.

The Marks & Clerk Nanotechnology Report 2006 highlighted the fact that despite having ‘substantial’ funding for research in the field, Europe was not mirroring this support based on patents filed.