The Role of Patents and Innovations in the Development of Modern Transportation

  • Aleksandar Trifunović University of Belgrade Faculty of Transport and Traffic Engineering, Belgrade, Serbia
  • Dragan Lazarević University of Belgrade Faculty of Transport and Traffic Engineering, Belgrade, Serbia
DOI: https://doi.org/10.31075/PIS.72.03.06
Keywords: Patents, innovations, autonomous vehicles, traffic safety, sustainability

Abstract

Patents and innovations represent one of the key drivers of modern transportation development. This paper analyzes global and national trends in the field of patents, with a particular focus on intelligent transportation systems, autonomous and connected vehicles, traffic management systems, vehicle safety, and environmentally sustainable technologies. The results show a constant global increase in patent applications, especially in the domain of digitalization and the integration of information technologies with transportation solutions. In Serbia, 9,480 applications for industrial property rights were submitted in 2024, including 326 patent applications, which indicates a stable but limited level of technological innovation. While a significant increase in trademarks and industrial designs has been recorded, the number of patents remains modest compared to global trends. The study concludes that patents are not only a legal protection instrument but also a mechanism that enables improvements in traffic safety, efficiency, and sustainability. The national context highlights the need for stronger support of research and development activities in order for Serbia to reduce the innovation gap compared to leading world economies.

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Published
2026-10-03
How to Cite
Trifunović, A., & Lazarević, D. (2026). The Role of Patents and Innovations in the Development of Modern Transportation. Journal of Road and Traffic Engineering, 72(3), 41-46. https://doi.org/10.31075/PIS.72.03.06
Issue
Vol 72 No 3 (2026): Journal of Road and Traffic Engineering
Section
Articles

Copyright (c) 2026 Journal of Road and Traffic Engineering

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