Patent applicants and applications; SIC 2008 and company size

Changed on: 06/02/2024 02:00

Patent applicants and applications; SIC 2008 and company size
Country (UCI)	SIC 2008	Company size	Periods	EPO-Patent applicants (number)	EPO-Patent applications (number)	EPO-Patent Applicants with foreign cooperation (number)	EPO-Patent Applications with foreign cooperation (number)	OCNL-Patent Patent applicants (number)	OCNL-Patent Patent applications (number)	OCNL-Patent Applicants with foreign cooperation (number)	OCNL-Patent Applications with foreign cooperation (number)
Total domestic and foreign	A-U All economic activities	Total employed persons	2013	895	4,140	70	550	1,160	1,490	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	A-U All economic activities	Total employed persons	2014	895	4,385	70	440	1,175	1,660	15	15
Total domestic and foreign	A-U All economic activities	Total employed persons	2015	905	4,590	75	460	1,135	1,705	10	10
Total domestic and foreign	A-U All economic activities	Total employed persons	2016	890	4,190	65	460	1,115	1,615	10	10
Total domestic and foreign	A-U All economic activities	Total employed persons	2017	870	4,245	50	370	1,100	1,665	10	10
Total domestic and foreign	A-U All economic activities	Total employed persons	2018	875	4,185	80	370	1,075	1,635	15	15
Total domestic and foreign	A-U All economic activities	Total employed persons	2019**	925	4,260	80	380	1,065	1,720	15	15
Total domestic and foreign	A-U All economic activities	Total employed persons	2020*	820	3,405	75	345	1,105	1,645	20	20
Total domestic and foreign	A Agriculture, forestry and fishing	Total employed persons	2013	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
Total domestic and foreign	A Agriculture, forestry and fishing	Total employed persons	2014	10	20	0	0	25	25	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	A Agriculture, forestry and fishing	Total employed persons	2015	10	30	0	0	20	30	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	A Agriculture, forestry and fishing	Total employed persons	2016	10	35	0	0	15	20	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	A Agriculture, forestry and fishing	Total employed persons	2017	5	10	0	0	15	15	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	A Agriculture, forestry and fishing	Total employed persons	2018	5	10	0	0	10	10	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	A Agriculture, forestry and fishing	Total employed persons	2019**	5	15	0	0	15	15	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	A Agriculture, forestry and fishing	Total employed persons	2020*	5	5	0	0	15	15	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	B Mining and quarrying	Total employed persons	2013	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
Total domestic and foreign	B Mining and quarrying	Total employed persons	2014	5	140	0	120	5	5	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	B Mining and quarrying	Total employed persons	2015	5	120	0	105	5	10	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	B Mining and quarrying	Total employed persons	2016	5	110	0	100	5	10	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	B Mining and quarrying	Total employed persons	2017	0	5	0	0	5	5	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	B Mining and quarrying	Total employed persons	2018	0	5	0	0	0	5	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	B Mining and quarrying	Total employed persons	2019**	5	5	0	0	5	5	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	B Mining and quarrying	Total employed persons	2020*	5	10	0	0	5	10	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	C Manufacturing	Total employed persons	2013	240	2,620	20	295	265	425	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	C Manufacturing	Total employed persons	2014	240	2,820	20	225	245	525	5	10
Total domestic and foreign	C Manufacturing	Total employed persons	2015	275	3,135	20	225	260	610	5	5
Total domestic and foreign	C Manufacturing	Total employed persons	2016	295	2,915	20	270	295	560	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	C Manufacturing	Total employed persons	2017	275	2,820	15	150	275	635	5	5
Total domestic and foreign	C Manufacturing	Total employed persons	2018	285	2,650	30	115	270	620	5	5
Total domestic and foreign	C Manufacturing	Total employed persons	2019**	310	2,660	25	50	280	700	5	5
Total domestic and foreign	C Manufacturing	Total employed persons	2020*	285	2,205	15	40	295	590	0	5
Total domestic and foreign	D Energy supply	Total employed persons	2013	.	.	.	.	0	0	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	D Energy supply	Total employed persons	2014	5	5	0	0	5	10	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	D Energy supply	Total employed persons	2015	5	5	0	0	5	5	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	D Energy supply	Total employed persons	2016	5	10	0	0	10	10	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	D Energy supply	Total employed persons	2017	5	5	0	0	5	10	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	D Energy supply	Total employed persons	2018	5	5	0	0	5	10	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	D Energy supply	Total employed persons	2019**	5	10	0	0	5	10	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	D Energy supply	Total employed persons	2020*	5	5	0	0	5	10	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	E Water supply and waste management	Total employed persons	2013	0	0	0	0	5	5	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	E Water supply and waste management	Total employed persons	2014	5	5	0	0	5	5	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	E Water supply and waste management	Total employed persons	2015	5	5	0	0	10	10	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	E Water supply and waste management	Total employed persons	2016	5	5	0	0	5	5	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	E Water supply and waste management	Total employed persons	2017	5	5	0	0	5	5	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	E Water supply and waste management	Total employed persons	2018	5	5	0	0	5	5	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	E Water supply and waste management	Total employed persons	2019**	5	5	0	0	5	5	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	E Water supply and waste management	Total employed persons	2020*	10	10	0	0	5	10	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	F Construction	Total employed persons	2013	15	20	0	0	55	70	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	F Construction	Total employed persons	2014	15	20	0	0	45	50	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	F Construction	Total employed persons	2015	20	30	5	5	55	75	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	F Construction	Total employed persons	2016	20	30	0	0	50	60	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	F Construction	Total employed persons	2017	25	40	0	5	45	60	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	F Construction	Total employed persons	2018	20	25	0	0	40	60	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	F Construction	Total employed persons	2019**	15	25	0	0	40	50	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	F Construction	Total employed persons	2020*	15	20	0	0	40	55	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	G Wholesale and retail trade	Total employed persons	2013	100	210	5	20	150	200	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	G Wholesale and retail trade	Total employed persons	2014	125	265	5	25	160	210	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	G Wholesale and retail trade	Total employed persons	2015	115	190	5	10	165	210	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	G Wholesale and retail trade	Total employed persons	2016	105	195	5	10	165	215	5	5
Total domestic and foreign	G Wholesale and retail trade	Total employed persons	2017	120	310	5	70	150	200	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	G Wholesale and retail trade	Total employed persons	2018	95	190	0	5	135	180	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	G Wholesale and retail trade	Total employed persons	2019**	110	205	5	10	135	190	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	G Wholesale and retail trade	Total employed persons	2020*	85	140	5	10	140	155	5	5
Total domestic and foreign	H Transportation and storage	Total employed persons	2013	5	10	0	0	10	10	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	H Transportation and storage	Total employed persons	2014	5	15	0	0	10	15	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	H Transportation and storage	Total employed persons	2015	10	10	0	0	10	20	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	H Transportation and storage	Total employed persons	2016	10	15	0	0	10	15	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	H Transportation and storage	Total employed persons	2017	5	10	0	0	5	15	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	H Transportation and storage	Total employed persons	2018	5	10	0	0	10	15	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	H Transportation and storage	Total employed persons	2019**	10	15	0	0	5	10	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	H Transportation and storage	Total employed persons	2020*	5	10	0	0	10	15	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	I Accommodation and food serving	Total employed persons	2013	.	.	.	.	0	0	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	I Accommodation and food serving	Total employed persons	2014	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	I Accommodation and food serving	Total employed persons	2015	5	5	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	I Accommodation and food serving	Total employed persons	2016	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	I Accommodation and food serving	Total employed persons	2017	0	0	0	0	5	5	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	I Accommodation and food serving	Total employed persons	2018	5	5	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	I Accommodation and food serving	Total employed persons	2019**	0	0	0	0	5	5	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	I Accommodation and food serving	Total employed persons	2020*	.	.	.	.	5	5	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	J Information and communication	Total employed persons	2013	30	175	5	25	30	30	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	J Information and communication	Total employed persons	2014	25	155	0	15	30	30	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	J Information and communication	Total employed persons	2015	25	160	5	15	35	45	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	J Information and communication	Total employed persons	2016	30	140	0	5	40	45	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	J Information and communication	Total employed persons	2017	30	140	0	10	45	45	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	J Information and communication	Total employed persons	2018	25	200	5	15	25	40	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	J Information and communication	Total employed persons	2019**	35	175	0	15	25	35	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	J Information and communication	Total employed persons	2020*	30	120	5	5	40	60	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	K Financial institutions	Total employed persons	2013	15	20	0	0	35	50	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	K Financial institutions	Total employed persons	2014	20	25	0	0	25	35	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	K Financial institutions	Total employed persons	2015	30	60	0	0	60	95	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	K Financial institutions	Total employed persons	2016	30	35	0	0	45	55	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	K Financial institutions	Total employed persons	2017	35	55	0	15	50	50	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	K Financial institutions	Total employed persons	2018	50	75	5	5	50	55	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	K Financial institutions	Total employed persons	2019**	45	70	0	0	35	40	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	K Financial institutions	Total employed persons	2020*	25	165	0	120	45	60	5	0
Total domestic and foreign	L Renting, buying, selling real estate	Total employed persons	2013	5	5	0	0	5	5	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	L Renting, buying, selling real estate	Total employed persons	2014	5	5	0	0	5	10	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	L Renting, buying, selling real estate	Total employed persons	2015	0	0	0	0	5	5	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	L Renting, buying, selling real estate	Total employed persons	2016	5	5	0	0	5	10	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	L Renting, buying, selling real estate	Total employed persons	2017	5	5	0	0	5	5	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	L Renting, buying, selling real estate	Total employed persons	2018	0	0	0	0	5	5	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	L Renting, buying, selling real estate	Total employed persons	2019**	.	.	.	.	5	5	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	L Renting, buying, selling real estate	Total employed persons	2020*	0	0	0	0	5	10	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	M Other specialised business services	Total employed persons	2013	105	270	5	10	170	220	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	M Other specialised business services	Total employed persons	2014	125	275	5	10	175	235	5	5
Total domestic and foreign	M Other specialised business services	Total employed persons	2015	140	395	15	60	195	270	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	M Other specialised business services	Total employed persons	2016	170	405	15	50	200	300	5	5
Total domestic and foreign	M Other specialised business services	Total employed persons	2017	165	405	10	50	180	240	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	M Other specialised business services	Total employed persons	2018	175	395	15	45	180	245	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	M Other specialised business services	Total employed persons	2019**	195	450	15	55	215	285	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	M Other specialised business services	Total employed persons	2020*	190	375	20	60	235	305	5	5
Total domestic and foreign	N Renting and other business support	Total employed persons	2013	10	90	0	5	25	45	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	N Renting and other business support	Total employed persons	2014	10	105	0	0	20	50	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	N Renting and other business support	Total employed persons	2015	20	30	0	5	35	50	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	N Renting and other business support	Total employed persons	2016	20	40	0	0	35	50	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	N Renting and other business support	Total employed persons	2017	25	170	0	0	25	40	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	N Renting and other business support	Total employed persons	2018	30	100	0	45	30	45	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	N Renting and other business support	Total employed persons	2019**	25	145	5	105	30	35	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	N Renting and other business support	Total employed persons	2020*	25	120	0	85	40	50	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	O Public administration and services	Total employed persons	2013	5	5	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	O Public administration and services	Total employed persons	2014	.	.	.	.	0	0	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	O Public administration and services	Total employed persons	2015	0	0	0	0	.	.	.	.
Total domestic and foreign	O Public administration and services	Total employed persons	2016	0	0	0	0	.	.	.	.
Total domestic and foreign	O Public administration and services	Total employed persons	2017	0	5	0	0	.	.	.	.
Total domestic and foreign	O Public administration and services	Total employed persons	2018	0	0	0	0	.	.	.	.
Total domestic and foreign	O Public administration and services	Total employed persons	2019**	0	5	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	O Public administration and services	Total employed persons	2020*	0	5	0	0	.	.	.	.
Total domestic and foreign	P Education	Total employed persons	2013	5	45	5	10	10	15	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	P Education	Total employed persons	2014	10	45	5	15	10	10	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	P Education	Total employed persons	2015	10	50	5	5	10	10	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	P Education	Total employed persons	2016	10	45	5	5	10	15	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	P Education	Total employed persons	2017	10	50	0	5	10	25	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	P Education	Total employed persons	2018	10	80	5	15	10	35	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	P Education	Total employed persons	2019**	15	60	10	10	10	55	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	P Education	Total employed persons	2020*	10	45	5	15	15	35	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	Q Health and social work activities	Total employed persons	2013	20	30	0	0	10	10	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	Q Health and social work activities	Total employed persons	2014	25	40	5	5	10	10	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	Q Health and social work activities	Total employed persons	2015	15	30	0	0	10	10	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	Q Health and social work activities	Total employed persons	2016	20	35	5	0	10	15	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	Q Health and social work activities	Total employed persons	2017	15	30	5	5	15	15	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	Q Health and social work activities	Total employed persons	2018	10	30	5	5	10	20	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	Q Health and social work activities	Total employed persons	2019**	15	35	5	5	10	10	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	Q Health and social work activities	Total employed persons	2020*	20	45	5	5	20	30	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	R Culture, sports and recreation	Total employed persons	2013	5	180	0	155	10	50	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	R Culture, sports and recreation	Total employed persons	2014	5	15	0	0	5	45	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	R Culture, sports and recreation	Total employed persons	2015	5	10	0	0	5	25	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	R Culture, sports and recreation	Total employed persons	2016	5	10	0	0	5	40	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	R Culture, sports and recreation	Total employed persons	2017	5	5	0	0	5	25	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	R Culture, sports and recreation	Total employed persons	2018	5	5	0	0	5	40	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	R Culture, sports and recreation	Total employed persons	2019**	0	20	0	5	5	30	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	R Culture, sports and recreation	Total employed persons	2020*	5	10	0	0	5	50	0	5
Total domestic and foreign	S Other service activities	Total employed persons	2013	0	5	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	S Other service activities	Total employed persons	2014	5	10	0	0	5	5	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	S Other service activities	Total employed persons	2015	5	10	5	0	5	5	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	S Other service activities	Total employed persons	2016	10	15	0	0	5	5	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	S Other service activities	Total employed persons	2017	5	5	0	0	5	5	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	S Other service activities	Total employed persons	2018	5	5	0	0	5	5	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	S Other service activities	Total employed persons	2019**	5	10	0	0	5	5	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	S Other service activities	Total employed persons	2020*	5	5	0	0	5	5	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	T Activities of households	Total employed persons	2013	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
Total domestic and foreign	T Activities of households	Total employed persons	2014	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
Total domestic and foreign	T Activities of households	Total employed persons	2015	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
Total domestic and foreign	T Activities of households	Total employed persons	2016	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
Total domestic and foreign	T Activities of households	Total employed persons	2017	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
Total domestic and foreign	T Activities of households	Total employed persons	2018	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
Total domestic and foreign	T Activities of households	Total employed persons	2019**	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
Total domestic and foreign	T Activities of households	Total employed persons	2020*	.	.	.	.	0	0	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	U Extraterritorial organisations	Total employed persons	2013	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
Total domestic and foreign	U Extraterritorial organisations	Total employed persons	2014	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
Total domestic and foreign	U Extraterritorial organisations	Total employed persons	2015	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
Total domestic and foreign	U Extraterritorial organisations	Total employed persons	2016	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
Total domestic and foreign	U Extraterritorial organisations	Total employed persons	2017	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
Total domestic and foreign	U Extraterritorial organisations	Total employed persons	2018	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
Total domestic and foreign	U Extraterritorial organisations	Total employed persons	2019**	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
Total domestic and foreign	U Extraterritorial organisations	Total employed persons	2020*	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
Total domestic and foreign	Unknown	Total employed persons	2013	325	460	25	25	385	345	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	Unknown	Total employed persons	2014	260	425	20	20	385	385	5	0
Total domestic and foreign	Unknown	Total employed persons	2015	205	310	15	25	245	220	5	5
Total domestic and foreign	Unknown	Total employed persons	2016	135	155	5	5	205	190	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	Unknown	Total employed persons	2017	125	175	10	60	260	255	5	5
Total domestic and foreign	Unknown	Total employed persons	2018	140	390	15	115	275	250	5	5
Total domestic and foreign	Unknown	Total employed persons	2019**	125	355	10	125	230	220	5	5
Total domestic and foreign	Unknown	Total employed persons	2020*	95	100	10	5	180	180	5	0
Source: CBS.

Explanation of symbols

Dataset is not available.

This table gives an overview of the number of patent applicants and patent applications at the European Patent Office (EPO) and the Netherlands Patent Office (OCNL), a department of the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO). Patents can be granted to enterprises, universities, institutions, private persons or other entities as long as the invention which they cover fulfils certain criteria. To obtain a patent the invention must be novel, contain an inventive step and be industrially applicable. This is assessed by a patent office like the EPO or OCNL. The patent office will grant or reject the application.

The data are broken down by economic activity of the enterprise applying for a patent. For the classification by economic activity the Dutch Standard Industrial Classification (SIC 2008) is used. The data give an indication which branches are (most) innovative. Additionally, a breakdown by enterprise size class is available.

Data available from: 2013

Status of the figures:
The figures from 2013 to 2018 are final. The figures for 2019 are revised provisional. The figures for 2020 are provisional.

Changes as of 6 February 2024:
Provisional figures for 2019 and 2020 have been updated.

Changes as of June 30, 2023:
The figures for 2018 and 2019 have been adjusted and the provisional figures for 2020 have been added.

When will new figures be published?
Mid 2024 the figures for 2019 and 2020 will be updated and new figures for 2021 will be added. Beginning of 2025 the figures for 2020 and 2021 will be updated.

Description topics

EPO-Patent

A patent that is granted by the European Patent Office (EPO) is valid in all member countries of the EPO. However, the EPO patent must be validated at the national patent office in order to be effective in member countries.

applicants: Enterprises who applied for a patent at the European Patent Office (EPO)in the period observed.
A patent that is granted by the European Patent Office (EPO) is valid in all member countries of the EPO. However the EPO patent must be validated at the national patent office in order to be effective in member countries.

applications: Patent applications at the European Patent Office (EPO) in the period observed.
A patent that is granted by the European Patent Office (EPO) is valid in all member countries of the EPO. However the EPO patent must be validated at the national patent office in order to be effective in member countries.

Applicants with foreign cooperation: Enterprises who applied for a patent at the European Patent Office (EPO) in the period observed, where the Dutch applicant has cooperated with a foreign entity for any of its applications.

Applications with foreign cooperation: Patent applications at the European Patent Office (EPO) in the period observed, where the Dutch applicant has cooperated with a foreign entity for this specific application.

OCNL-Patent

A patent that is granted by NL Patent Office (OCNL), a division of Agency NL, is only valid in the Netherlands.

Patent applicants: Enterprises who applied for a patent at the Netherlands Patent Office (OCNL), a department of the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), in the period observed.
A patent that is granted by NL Patent Office (OCNL), a division of Agency NL, is only valid in the Netherlands.

Patent applications: Patent applications at the Netherlands Patent Office (OCNL), a department of the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), in the period observed.
A patent that is granted by NL Patent Office (OCNL), a division of Agency NL, is only valid in the Netherlands.

Applicants with foreign cooperation: Enterprises who applied for a patent at the Netherlands Patent Office (OCNL), a department of the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), in the period observed, where the Dutch applicant has cooperated with a foreign entity for any of its applications.

Applications with foreign cooperation: Patent applications at the Netherlands Patent Office (OCNL), a department of the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), in the period observed, where the Dutch applicant has cooperated with a foreign entity for this specific application.