The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) has released data on international patent filings under the Patent Cooperation Treaty showing a nearly 5 percent increase from 2009 to 2010. China saw the strongest growth in filings at more than 56 percent, and patents related to digital communication technology led other fields with a 17.3 percent increase. Biotechnology patent filings decreased 1.5 percent, while micro-structural and nanotechnology patent filings fell by 2.3 percent. See WIPO News & Events, February 9, 2011.