Patent applicants and applications; SIC 2008 and company size

Changed on: 27/02/2026 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-N Business economy and agriculture	Total employed persons	2022*	650	3,600	50	390	675	1,120	5	5
Total domestic and foreign	A-N Business economy and agriculture	0 to 49 employed persons	2022*	370	540	20	60	440	550	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	A-N Business economy and agriculture	50 to 249 employed persons	2022*	135	490	10	160	130	240	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	A-N Business economy and agriculture	250 and more employed persons	2022*	140	2,575	20	170	100	330	5	5
Total domestic and foreign	A-N Business economy and agriculture	Employed persons unknown	2022*	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
Total domestic and foreign	M-N Business services	Total employed persons	2022*	185	660	15	280	175	275	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	M-N Business services	0 to 49 employed persons	2022*	155	200	10	10	155	205	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	M-N Business services	50 to 249 employed persons	2022*	20	235	5	155	10	30	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	M-N Business services	250 and more employed persons	2022*	10	225	5	115	10	40	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	M-N Business services	Employed persons unknown	2022*	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
Total domestic and foreign	M Other specialised business services	Total employed persons	2022*	165	475	15	130	155	245	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	M Other specialised business services	0 to 49 employed persons	2022*	135	175	5	10	140	180	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	M Other specialised business services	50 to 249 employed persons	2022*	20	75	0	5	10	30	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	M Other specialised business services	250 and more employed persons	2022*	10	220	5	115	5	35	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	M Other specialised business services	Employed persons unknown	2022*	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
Total domestic and foreign	74 Other specialised business services	Total employed persons	2022*	10	10	0	0	15	20	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	74 Other specialised business services	0 to 49 employed persons	2022*	5	5	0	0	10	10	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	74 Other specialised business services	50 to 249 employed persons	2022*	0	0	0	0	0	10	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	74 Other specialised business services	250 and more employed persons	2022*	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
Total domestic and foreign	74 Other specialised business services	Employed persons unknown	2022*	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
Total domestic and foreign	N Renting and other business support	Total employed persons	2022*	20	190	0	150	20	35	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	N Renting and other business support	0 to 49 employed persons	2022*	20	25	0	0	15	25	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	N Renting and other business support	50 to 249 employed persons	2022*	0	160	0	150	0	0	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	N Renting and other business support	250 and more employed persons	2022*	0	5	0	0	0	5	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	N Renting and other business support	Employed persons unknown	2022*	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
Total domestic and foreign	82 Other business services	Total employed persons	2022*	.	.	.	.	0	0	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	82 Other business services	0 to 49 employed persons	2022*	.	.	.	.	0	0	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	82 Other business services	50 to 249 employed persons	2022*	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
Total domestic and foreign	82 Other business services	250 and more employed persons	2022*	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
Total domestic and foreign	82 Other business services	Employed persons unknown	2022*	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
Domestic	A-N Business economy and agriculture	Total employed persons	2022*	485	2,435	25	40	585	920	5	5
Domestic	A-N Business economy and agriculture	0 to 49 employed persons	2022*	330	425	15	15	425	525	0	0
Domestic	A-N Business economy and agriculture	50 to 249 employed persons	2022*	85	155	5	5	95	160	0	0
Domestic	A-N Business economy and agriculture	250 and more employed persons	2022*	70	1,860	10	20	70	230	0	0
Domestic	A-N Business economy and agriculture	Employed persons unknown	2022*	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
Domestic	M-N Business services	Total employed persons	2022*	165	285	10	15	170	260	0	0
Domestic	M-N Business services	0 to 49 employed persons	2022*	145	185	5	10	150	190	0	0
Domestic	M-N Business services	50 to 249 employed persons	2022*	15	35	0	0	10	30	0	0
Domestic	M-N Business services	250 and more employed persons	2022*	10	65	5	5	5	35	0	0
Domestic	M-N Business services	Employed persons unknown	2022*	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
Domestic	M Other specialised business services	Total employed persons	2022*	150	260	10	10	150	230	0	0
Domestic	M Other specialised business services	0 to 49 employed persons	2022*	125	165	5	10	135	170	0	0
Domestic	M Other specialised business services	50 to 249 employed persons	2022*	15	35	0	0	10	30	0	0
Domestic	M Other specialised business services	250 and more employed persons	2022*	10	60	5	5	5	30	0	0
Domestic	M Other specialised business services	Employed persons unknown	2022*	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
Domestic	74 Other specialised business services	Total employed persons	2022*	10	10	0	0	15	20	0	0
Domestic	74 Other specialised business services	0 to 49 employed persons	2022*	5	5	0	0	10	10	0	0
Domestic	74 Other specialised business services	50 to 249 employed persons	2022*	0	0	0	0	0	10	0	0
Domestic	74 Other specialised business services	250 and more employed persons	2022*	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
Domestic	74 Other specialised business services	Employed persons unknown	2022*	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
Domestic	N Renting and other business support	Total employed persons	2022*	20	25	0	0	20	30	0	0
Domestic	N Renting and other business support	0 to 49 employed persons	2022*	15	20	0	0	15	20	0	0
Domestic	N Renting and other business support	50 to 249 employed persons	2022*	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Domestic	N Renting and other business support	250 and more employed persons	2022*	0	5	0	0	0	5	0	0
Domestic	N Renting and other business support	Employed persons unknown	2022*	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
Domestic	82 Other business services	Total employed persons	2022*	.	.	.	.	0	0	0	0
Domestic	82 Other business services	0 to 49 employed persons	2022*	.	.	.	.	0	0	0	0
Domestic	82 Other business services	50 to 249 employed persons	2022*	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
Domestic	82 Other business services	250 and more employed persons	2022*	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
Domestic	82 Other business services	Employed persons unknown	2022*	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
Foreign	A-N Business economy and agriculture	Total employed persons	2022*	165	1,160	20	350	85	205	5	5
Foreign	A-N Business economy and agriculture	0 to 49 employed persons	2022*	40	115	5	45	15	25	0	0
Foreign	A-N Business economy and agriculture	50 to 249 employed persons	2022*	50	330	5	160	40	80	0	0
Foreign	A-N Business economy and agriculture	250 and more employed persons	2022*	75	715	10	150	35	100	0	0
Foreign	A-N Business economy and agriculture	Employed persons unknown	2022*	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
Foreign	M-N Business services	Total employed persons	2022*	20	375	5	270	5	20	0	0
Foreign	M-N Business services	0 to 49 employed persons	2022*	10	15	0	0	5	10	0	0
Foreign	M-N Business services	50 to 249 employed persons	2022*	5	200	0	155	0	0	0	0
Foreign	M-N Business services	250 and more employed persons	2022*	0	160	0	115	0	5	0	0
Foreign	M-N Business services	Employed persons unknown	2022*	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
Foreign	M Other specialised business services	Total employed persons	2022*	15	210	5	120	5	15	0	0
Foreign	M Other specialised business services	0 to 49 employed persons	2022*	10	10	0	0	5	10	0	0
Foreign	M Other specialised business services	50 to 249 employed persons	2022*	5	45	0	5	0	0	0	0
Foreign	M Other specialised business services	250 and more employed persons	2022*	0	160	0	115	0	5	0	0
Foreign	M Other specialised business services	Employed persons unknown	2022*	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
Foreign	74 Other specialised business services	Total employed persons	2022*	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
Foreign	74 Other specialised business services	0 to 49 employed persons	2022*	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
Foreign	74 Other specialised business services	50 to 249 employed persons	2022*	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
Foreign	74 Other specialised business services	250 and more employed persons	2022*	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
Foreign	74 Other specialised business services	Employed persons unknown	2022*	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
Foreign	N Renting and other business support	Total employed persons	2022*	5	165	0	150	0	5	0	0
Foreign	N Renting and other business support	0 to 49 employed persons	2022*	0	5	0	0	0	5	0	0
Foreign	N Renting and other business support	50 to 249 employed persons	2022*	0	160	0	150	.	.	.	.
Foreign	N Renting and other business support	250 and more employed persons	2022*	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
Foreign	N Renting and other business support	Employed persons unknown	2022*	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
Foreign	82 Other business services	Total employed persons	2022*	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
Foreign	82 Other business services	0 to 49 employed persons	2022*	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
Foreign	82 Other business services	50 to 249 employed persons	2022*	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
Foreign	82 Other business services	250 and more employed persons	2022*	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
Foreign	82 Other business services	Employed persons unknown	2022*	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
Equally-shared control	A-N Business economy and agriculture	Total employed persons	2022*	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
Equally-shared control	A-N Business economy and agriculture	0 to 49 employed persons	2022*	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
Equally-shared control	A-N Business economy and agriculture	50 to 249 employed persons	2022*	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
Equally-shared control	A-N Business economy and agriculture	250 and more employed persons	2022*	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
Equally-shared control	A-N Business economy and agriculture	Employed persons unknown	2022*	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
Equally-shared control	M-N Business services	Total employed persons	2022*	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
Equally-shared control	M-N Business services	0 to 49 employed persons	2022*	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
Equally-shared control	M-N Business services	50 to 249 employed persons	2022*	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
Equally-shared control	M-N Business services	250 and more employed persons	2022*	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
Equally-shared control	M-N Business services	Employed persons unknown	2022*	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
Source: CBS.

Explanation of symbols

Table explanation

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: 2011

Status of the figures:
The figures from 2011 to 2020 are final. The figures for 2021 are revised provisional. The figures for 2022 are provisional.

Changes as of February 27, 2026:
Provisional figures for 2021 and 2022 have been updated.

Changes as of 31 July 2025:
The figures for 2020 and 2021 have been adjusted and the provisional figures for 2022 have been added. Additionally, the series has been expanded with figures for 2011 and 2012.

When will new figures be published?
Mid 2026 the figures for 2021 and 2022 will be updated and new figures for 2023 will be added. Beginning of 2027 the figures for 2022 and 2023 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.