Patent applicants and applications; SIC 2008 and company size

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 B-E Industry (no construction), energy Total employed persons 2020* 300 2,230 15 40 310 620 0 5
Total domestic and foreign B-E Industry (no construction), energy 0 to 49 employed persons 2020* 115 160 0 0 150 180 0 0
Total domestic and foreign B-E Industry (no construction), energy 50 to 249 employed persons 2020* 85 175 5 5 90 145 0 0
Total domestic and foreign B-E Industry (no construction), energy 250 and more employed persons 2020* 95 1,890 10 35 70 290 0 5
Total domestic and foreign B-E Industry (no construction), energy Employed persons unknown 2020* 5 5 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total domestic and foreign 26-27 Elektrical and electron. Industry Total employed persons 2020* 35 1,195 0 15 30 95 0 0
Total domestic and foreign 26-27 Elektrical and electron. Industry 0 to 49 employed persons 2020* 15 20 0 0 20 25 0 0
Total domestic and foreign 26-27 Elektrical and electron. Industry 50 to 249 employed persons 2020* 5 30 0 0 5 15 0 0
Total domestic and foreign 26-27 Elektrical and electron. Industry 250 and more employed persons 2020* 10 1,145 0 15 10 50 0 0
Total domestic and foreign 26-27 Elektrical and electron. Industry Employed persons unknown 2020* . . . . . . . .
Domestic B-E Industry (no construction), energy Total employed persons 2020* 200 1,735 5 25 255 475 0 0
Domestic B-E Industry (no construction), energy 0 to 49 employed persons 2020* 105 140 0 0 145 175 0 0
Domestic B-E Industry (no construction), energy 50 to 249 employed persons 2020* 45 60 0 0 65 100 0 0
Domestic B-E Industry (no construction), energy 250 and more employed persons 2020* 45 1,530 5 25 40 200 0 0
Domestic B-E Industry (no construction), energy Employed persons unknown 2020* 5 5 0 0 0 0 0 0
Domestic 26-27 Elektrical and electron. Industry Total employed persons 2020* 25 1,155 0 15 25 80 0 0
Domestic 26-27 Elektrical and electron. Industry 0 to 49 employed persons 2020* 15 20 0 0 15 25 0 0
Domestic 26-27 Elektrical and electron. Industry 50 to 249 employed persons 2020* 0 5 0 0 5 15 0 0
Domestic 26-27 Elektrical and electron. Industry 250 and more employed persons 2020* 10 1,130 0 15 5 40 0 0
Domestic 26-27 Elektrical and electron. Industry Employed persons unknown 2020* . . . . . . . .
Foreign B-E Industry (no construction), energy Total employed persons 2020* 100 495 10 15 55 145 0 0
Foreign B-E Industry (no construction), energy 0 to 49 employed persons 2020* 10 20 0 0 5 5 0 0
Foreign B-E Industry (no construction), energy 50 to 249 employed persons 2020* 40 115 5 5 25 45 0 0
Foreign B-E Industry (no construction), energy 250 and more employed persons 2020* 50 360 5 10 25 90 0 0
Foreign B-E Industry (no construction), energy Employed persons unknown 2020* . . . . . . . .
Foreign 26-27 Elektrical and electron. Industry Total employed persons 2020* 10 45 0 0 5 15 0 0
Foreign 26-27 Elektrical and electron. Industry 0 to 49 employed persons 2020* 5 5 0 0 0 0 0 0
Foreign 26-27 Elektrical and electron. Industry 50 to 249 employed persons 2020* 5 25 0 0 0 0 0 0
Foreign 26-27 Elektrical and electron. Industry 250 and more employed persons 2020* 5 15 0 0 0 10 0 0
Foreign 26-27 Elektrical and electron. Industry Employed persons unknown 2020* . . . . . . . .
Equally-shared control B-E Industry (no construction), energy Total employed persons 2020* . . . . . . . .
Equally-shared control B-E Industry (no construction), energy 0 to 49 employed persons 2020* . . . . . . . .
Equally-shared control B-E Industry (no construction), energy 50 to 249 employed persons 2020* . . . . . . . .
Equally-shared control B-E Industry (no construction), energy 250 and more employed persons 2020* . . . . . . . .
Equally-shared control B-E Industry (no construction), energy Employed persons unknown 2020* . . . . . . . .
Equally-shared control 26-27 Elektrical and electron. Industry Total employed persons 2020* . . . . . . . .
Equally-shared control 26-27 Elektrical and electron. Industry 0 to 49 employed persons 2020* . . . . . . . .
Equally-shared control 26-27 Elektrical and electron. Industry 50 to 249 employed persons 2020* . . . . . . . .
Equally-shared control 26-27 Elektrical and electron. Industry 250 and more employed persons 2020* . . . . . . . .
Equally-shared control 26-27 Elektrical and electron. Industry Employed persons unknown 2020* . . . . . . . .
Extra EU-27 not allocated B-E Industry (no construction), energy Total employed persons 2020* . . . . . . . .
Extra EU-27 not allocated B-E Industry (no construction), energy 0 to 49 employed persons 2020* . . . . . . . .
Extra EU-27 not allocated B-E Industry (no construction), energy 50 to 249 employed persons 2020* . . . . . . . .
Extra EU-27 not allocated B-E Industry (no construction), energy 250 and more employed persons 2020* . . . . . . . .
Extra EU-27 not allocated B-E Industry (no construction), energy Employed persons unknown 2020* . . . . . . . .
Extra EU-27 not allocated 26-27 Elektrical and electron. Industry Total employed persons 2020* . . . . . . . .
Extra EU-27 not allocated 26-27 Elektrical and electron. Industry 0 to 49 employed persons 2020* . . . . . . . .
Extra EU-27 not allocated 26-27 Elektrical and electron. Industry 50 to 249 employed persons 2020* . . . . . . . .
Extra EU-27 not allocated 26-27 Elektrical and electron. Industry 250 and more employed persons 2020* . . . . . . . .
Extra EU-27 not allocated 26-27 Elektrical and electron. Industry Employed persons unknown 2020* . . . . . . . .
Offshore financial centres B-E Industry (no construction), energy Total employed persons 2020* . . . . . . . .
Offshore financial centres B-E Industry (no construction), energy 0 to 49 employed persons 2020* . . . . . . . .
Offshore financial centres B-E Industry (no construction), energy 50 to 249 employed persons 2020* . . . . . . . .
Offshore financial centres B-E Industry (no construction), energy 250 and more employed persons 2020* . . . . . . . .
Offshore financial centres B-E Industry (no construction), energy Employed persons unknown 2020* . . . . . . . .
Offshore financial centres 26-27 Elektrical and electron. Industry Total employed persons 2020* . . . . . . . .
Offshore financial centres 26-27 Elektrical and electron. Industry 0 to 49 employed persons 2020* . . . . . . . .
Offshore financial centres 26-27 Elektrical and electron. Industry 50 to 249 employed persons 2020* . . . . . . . .
Offshore financial centres 26-27 Elektrical and electron. Industry 250 and more employed persons 2020* . . . . . . . .
Offshore financial centres 26-27 Elektrical and electron. Industry Employed persons unknown 2020* . . . . . . . .
Unknown B-E Industry (no construction), energy Total employed persons 2020* . . . . . . . .
Unknown B-E Industry (no construction), energy 0 to 49 employed persons 2020* . . . . . . . .
Unknown B-E Industry (no construction), energy 50 to 249 employed persons 2020* . . . . . . . .
Unknown B-E Industry (no construction), energy 250 and more employed persons 2020* . . . . . . . .
Unknown B-E Industry (no construction), energy Employed persons unknown 2020* . . . . . . . .
Unknown 26-27 Elektrical and electron. Industry Total employed persons 2020* . . . . . . . .
Unknown 26-27 Elektrical and electron. Industry 0 to 49 employed persons 2020* . . . . . . . .
Unknown 26-27 Elektrical and electron. Industry 50 to 249 employed persons 2020* . . . . . . . .
Unknown 26-27 Elektrical and electron. Industry 250 and more employed persons 2020* . . . . . . . .
Unknown 26-27 Elektrical and electron. Industry Employed persons unknown 2020* . . . . . . . .
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.