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 2021* 205 1,655 15 30 310 585 0 0
Total domestic and foreign B-E Industry (no construction), energy 0 to 49 employed persons 2021* 75 95 5 5 155 200 0 0
Total domestic and foreign B-E Industry (no construction), energy 50 to 249 employed persons 2021* 50 125 0 0 80 140 0 0
Total domestic and foreign B-E Industry (no construction), energy 250 and more employed persons 2021* 75 1,430 10 25 70 245 0 0
Total domestic and foreign B-E Industry (no construction), energy Employed persons unknown 2021* 5 5 0 0 5 5 0 0
Total domestic and foreign F Construction Total employed persons 2021* 20 20 0 0 45 65 0 0
Total domestic and foreign F Construction 0 to 49 employed persons 2021* 10 10 0 0 30 35 0 0
Total domestic and foreign F Construction 50 to 249 employed persons 2021* 0 0 0 0 5 10 0 0
Total domestic and foreign F Construction 250 and more employed persons 2021* 10 10 0 0 10 25 0 0
Total domestic and foreign F Construction Employed persons unknown 2021* . . . . 0 0 0 0
Total domestic and foreign 41 Construction buildings, development Total employed persons 2021* 5 5 0 0 10 20 0 0
Total domestic and foreign 41 Construction buildings, development 0 to 49 employed persons 2021* 5 5 0 0 5 10 0 0
Total domestic and foreign 41 Construction buildings, development 50 to 249 employed persons 2021* . . . . 0 5 0 0
Total domestic and foreign 41 Construction buildings, development 250 and more employed persons 2021* 5 5 0 0 5 10 0 0
Total domestic and foreign 41 Construction buildings, development Employed persons unknown 2021* . . . . . . . .
Total domestic and foreign 43 Specialised construction activities Total employed persons 2021* 10 10 0 0 25 30 0 0
Total domestic and foreign 43 Specialised construction activities 0 to 49 employed persons 2021* 5 5 0 0 20 20 0 0
Total domestic and foreign 43 Specialised construction activities 50 to 249 employed persons 2021* . . . . 0 0 0 0
Total domestic and foreign 43 Specialised construction activities 250 and more employed persons 2021* 5 5 0 0 5 5 0 0
Total domestic and foreign 43 Specialised construction activities Employed persons unknown 2021* . . . . 0 0 0 0
Total domestic and foreign T Activities of households Total employed persons 2021* . . . . . . . .
Total domestic and foreign T Activities of households 0 to 49 employed persons 2021* . . . . . . . .
Total domestic and foreign T Activities of households 50 to 249 employed persons 2021* . . . . . . . .
Total domestic and foreign T Activities of households 250 and more employed persons 2021* . . . . . . . .
Total domestic and foreign T Activities of households Employed persons unknown 2021* . . . . . . . .
Total domestic and foreign 97 Households with domestic personnel Total employed persons 2021* . . . . . . . .
Total domestic and foreign 97 Households with domestic personnel 0 to 49 employed persons 2021* . . . . . . . .
Total domestic and foreign 97 Households with domestic personnel 50 to 249 employed persons 2021* . . . . . . . .
Total domestic and foreign 97 Households with domestic personnel 250 and more employed persons 2021* . . . . . . . .
Total domestic and foreign 97 Households with domestic personnel Employed persons unknown 2021* . . . . . . . .
Total domestic and foreign 98 Households producing for own use Total employed persons 2021* . . . . . . . .
Total domestic and foreign 98 Households producing for own use 0 to 49 employed persons 2021* . . . . . . . .
Total domestic and foreign 98 Households producing for own use 50 to 249 employed persons 2021* . . . . . . . .
Total domestic and foreign 98 Households producing for own use 250 and more employed persons 2021* . . . . . . . .
Total domestic and foreign 98 Households producing for own use Employed persons unknown 2021* . . . . . . . .
Domestic B-E Industry (no construction), energy Total employed persons 2021* 130 1,350 10 15 250 440 0 0
Domestic B-E Industry (no construction), energy 0 to 49 employed persons 2021* 70 85 5 5 150 190 0 0
Domestic B-E Industry (no construction), energy 50 to 249 employed persons 2021* 25 40 0 0 50 85 0 0
Domestic B-E Industry (no construction), energy 250 and more employed persons 2021* 30 1,220 5 15 45 160 0 0
Domestic B-E Industry (no construction), energy Employed persons unknown 2021* 5 5 0 0 5 5 0 0
Domestic F Construction Total employed persons 2021* 15 15 0 0 45 65 0 0
Domestic F Construction 0 to 49 employed persons 2021* 10 10 0 0 30 35 0 0
Domestic F Construction 50 to 249 employed persons 2021* 0 0 0 0 5 10 0 0
Domestic F Construction 250 and more employed persons 2021* 5 5 0 0 10 20 0 0
Domestic F Construction Employed persons unknown 2021* . . . . 0 0 0 0
Domestic 41 Construction buildings, development Total employed persons 2021* 5 5 0 0 10 20 0 0
Domestic 41 Construction buildings, development 0 to 49 employed persons 2021* 5 5 0 0 5 10 0 0
Domestic 41 Construction buildings, development 50 to 249 employed persons 2021* . . . . 0 5 0 0
Domestic 41 Construction buildings, development 250 and more employed persons 2021* 5 5 0 0 5 10 0 0
Domestic 41 Construction buildings, development Employed persons unknown 2021* . . . . . . . .
Domestic 43 Specialised construction activities Total employed persons 2021* 5 5 0 0 25 25 0 0
Domestic 43 Specialised construction activities 0 to 49 employed persons 2021* 5 5 0 0 20 20 0 0
Domestic 43 Specialised construction activities 50 to 249 employed persons 2021* . . . . 0 0 0 0
Domestic 43 Specialised construction activities 250 and more employed persons 2021* 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 0
Domestic 43 Specialised construction activities Employed persons unknown 2021* . . . . 0 0 0 0
Domestic T Activities of households Total employed persons 2021* . . . . . . . .
Domestic T Activities of households 0 to 49 employed persons 2021* . . . . . . . .
Domestic T Activities of households 50 to 249 employed persons 2021* . . . . . . . .
Domestic T Activities of households 250 and more employed persons 2021* . . . . . . . .
Domestic T Activities of households Employed persons unknown 2021* . . . . . . . .
Domestic 97 Households with domestic personnel Total employed persons 2021* . . . . . . . .
Domestic 97 Households with domestic personnel 0 to 49 employed persons 2021* . . . . . . . .
Domestic 97 Households with domestic personnel 50 to 249 employed persons 2021* . . . . . . . .
Domestic 97 Households with domestic personnel 250 and more employed persons 2021* . . . . . . . .
Domestic 97 Households with domestic personnel Employed persons unknown 2021* . . . . . . . .
Domestic 98 Households producing for own use Total employed persons 2021* . . . . . . . .
Domestic 98 Households producing for own use 0 to 49 employed persons 2021* . . . . . . . .
Domestic 98 Households producing for own use 50 to 249 employed persons 2021* . . . . . . . .
Domestic 98 Households producing for own use 250 and more employed persons 2021* . . . . . . . .
Domestic 98 Households producing for own use Employed persons unknown 2021* . . . . . . . .
Foreign B-E Industry (no construction), energy Total employed persons 2021* 75 310 5 15 60 145 0 0
Foreign B-E Industry (no construction), energy 0 to 49 employed persons 2021* 5 5 0 0 5 5 0 0
Foreign B-E Industry (no construction), energy 50 to 249 employed persons 2021* 30 90 0 0 30 55 0 0
Foreign B-E Industry (no construction), energy 250 and more employed persons 2021* 40 210 5 15 25 85 0 0
Foreign B-E Industry (no construction), energy Employed persons unknown 2021* . . . . . . . .
Foreign F Construction Total employed persons 2021* 5 5 0 0 0 5 0 0
Foreign F Construction 0 to 49 employed persons 2021* . . . . . . . .
Foreign F Construction 50 to 249 employed persons 2021* . . . . . . . .
Foreign F Construction 250 and more employed persons 2021* 5 5 0 0 0 5 0 0
Foreign F Construction Employed persons unknown 2021* . . . . . . . .
Foreign 41 Construction buildings, development Total employed persons 2021* . . . . . . . .
Foreign 41 Construction buildings, development 0 to 49 employed persons 2021* . . . . . . . .
Foreign 41 Construction buildings, development 50 to 249 employed persons 2021* . . . . . . . .
Foreign 41 Construction buildings, development 250 and more employed persons 2021* . . . . . . . .
Foreign 41 Construction buildings, development Employed persons unknown 2021* . . . . . . . .
Foreign 43 Specialised construction activities Total employed persons 2021* 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Foreign 43 Specialised construction activities 0 to 49 employed persons 2021* . . . . . . . .
Foreign 43 Specialised construction activities 50 to 249 employed persons 2021* . . . . . . . .
Foreign 43 Specialised construction activities 250 and more employed persons 2021* 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Foreign 43 Specialised construction activities Employed persons unknown 2021* . . . . . . . .
Foreign T Activities of households Total employed persons 2021* . . . . . . . .
Foreign T Activities of households 0 to 49 employed persons 2021* . . . . . . . .
Foreign T Activities of households 50 to 249 employed persons 2021* . . . . . . . .
Foreign T Activities of households 250 and more employed persons 2021* . . . . . . . .
Foreign T Activities of households Employed persons unknown 2021* . . . . . . . .
Foreign 97 Households with domestic personnel Total employed persons 2021* . . . . . . . .
Foreign 97 Households with domestic personnel 0 to 49 employed persons 2021* . . . . . . . .
Foreign 97 Households with domestic personnel 50 to 249 employed persons 2021* . . . . . . . .
Foreign 97 Households with domestic personnel 250 and more employed persons 2021* . . . . . . . .
Foreign 97 Households with domestic personnel Employed persons unknown 2021* . . . . . . . .
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: 2013

Status of the figures:
The figures from 2013 to 2019 are final. The figures for 2020 are revised provisional. The figures for 2021 are provisional.

Changes as of 15 July 2024:
The figures for 2019 and 2020 have been adjusted and the provisional figures for 2021 have been added.

Changes as of 1 February 2024:
Provisional figures for 2019 and 2020 have been updated.

When will new figures be published?
Beginning of 2025 the figures for 2020 and 2021 will be updated. Mid 2025 the figures for 2020 and 2021 will be updated and new figures for 2022 will be added.

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.