As the mining industry undergoes one of its most significant technological shifts in decades, driven by automation, clean energy, and digitalization, intellectual property (IP) protection has become a critical enabler of growth, competitiveness, and regional expansion.
For innovators and companies operating across Latin America’s mining ecosystem, countries like Chile, Mexico, Peru, and Argentina are not only rich in copper and lithium reserves. They are also increasingly rich in opportunity for those who secure their ideas.
Why mining innovation demands IP strategy
Whether you’re developing drone technologies, automation systems, explosives, wastewater treatment solutions, or green-energy applications for extraction processes, safeguarding your IP assets is vital. The cost of inaction is high: without legal protection, your competitive edge could be at risk from unlicensed adoption, local imitation, or missed licensing opportunities.
The LatAm mining landscape: growing IP activity
Latin America is fast becoming a key arena for mining-related IP filings:
- Chile alone recorded 347 mining patent applications in 2024
- Mexico, Peru, and Argentina show consistent year-over-year growth in filings
- Global players such as Sandvik, Orica, Caterpillar, and Anglo American are actively protecting innovations in these markets
This surge is not coincidental. It reflects both the growing complexity of mining operations and the evolution of IP systems in the region.
Patent-friendly environments: what makes these markets strategic
Across Latin America, regulatory frameworks are increasingly aligned with international standards:
- PCT membership in countries like Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, and Uruguay allows for a smoother international patent process
- Argentina, while not a PCT member, offers national filing options with clear timelines
- Digital Access Service (DAS) codes and Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) programs accelerate patent examination
- Enhanced transparency, predictability, and digital procedures reduce barriers for foreign filers
Chile: a case study in IP-driven mining opportunity
Chile stands out as a regional leader—not only in mining resources, but also as a stable, modernized environment for intellectual property protection. The country’s recent upgrades include:
- Membership in the Madrid Protocol and PCT system
- Extended protection for industrial designs (up to 15 years)
- Top regional performance in anti-counterfeiting enforcement
- Customs collaboration on border protection of IP rights
More broadly, Chile is being re-evaluated by investors and supply chain strategists alike:
- A top emerging market, highlighted by JP Morgan (June 2025)
- Strategic shift from Asia to LatAm as firms seek geopolitical neutrality and tariff-free access
- Leading clean-tech hub, especially in green hydrogen and solar energy
- Key trade sectors such as copper, lithium, wine, aquaculture, and agri-food, where technology transfer and brand equity are under constant threat of imitation
The risk of innovation without protection
In globally competitive sectors like mining, lithium extraction, agri-food, and aquaculture, your intangible assets—technologies, brands, processes, and designs—can easily be replicated or adapted if not properly protected. With local firms increasingly capable of technological adoption, having a robust IP strategy in place is not optional, it’s essential.
ClarkeModet: your IP partner in mining
With a direct presence in Chile, Mexico, Peru, Argentina, Brazil, and beyond, ClarkeModet has over 145 years of experience helping innovators protect their intellectual capital across Latin America.
We offer comprehensive services tailored to the mining industry, including:
- Patent drafting and filing strategy
- PCT and national filings
- Design and trademark protection
- Competitive intelligence and IP enforcement
- Cross-border IP portfolio management
Secure your innovations. Power your expansion
Mining innovation begins with protecting what sets you apart. Contact us to explore how our IP experts can support your strategic goals across Latin America’s most promising markets.
