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 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-U All economic activities 0 to 49 employed persons 2020* 405 570 20 55 625 775 10 10
Total domestic and foreign A-U All economic activities 50 to 249 employed persons 2020* 140 375 10 95 145 235 0 0
Total domestic and foreign A-U All economic activities 250 and more employed persons 2020* 160 2,205 35 65 115 410 5 5
Total domestic and foreign A-U All economic activities Employed persons unknown 2020* 120 255 10 130 220 225 5 5
Total domestic and foreign All enterprises (no finance and utilitie Total employed persons 2020* . . . . . . . .
Total domestic and foreign All enterprises (no finance and utilitie 0 to 49 employed persons 2020* . . . . . . . .
Total domestic and foreign All enterprises (no finance and utilitie 50 to 249 employed persons 2020* . . . . . . . .
Total domestic and foreign All enterprises (no finance and utilitie 250 and more employed persons 2020* . . . . . . . .
Total domestic and foreign All enterprises (no finance and utilitie Employed persons unknown 2020* . . . . . . . .
Total domestic and foreign A-N Business economy and agriculture Total employed persons 2020* 685 3,190 50 320 880 1,345 10 15
Total domestic and foreign A-N Business economy and agriculture 0 to 49 employed persons 2020* 385 545 20 55 600 705 10 5
Total domestic and foreign A-N Business economy and agriculture 50 to 249 employed persons 2020* 140 375 10 95 140 230 0 0
Total domestic and foreign A-N Business economy and agriculture 250 and more employed persons 2020* 140 2,120 20 45 100 365 5 5
Total domestic and foreign A-N Business economy and agriculture Employed persons unknown 2020* 20 150 0 120 40 45 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 A Agriculture, forestry and fishing 0 to 49 employed persons 2020* 0 0 0 0 10 10 0 0
Total domestic and foreign A Agriculture, forestry and fishing 50 to 249 employed persons 2020* 0 0 0 0 5 5 0 0
Total domestic and foreign A Agriculture, forestry and fishing 250 and more employed persons 2020* 0 5 0 0 . . . .
Total domestic and foreign A Agriculture, forestry and fishing Employed persons unknown 2020* . . . . . . . .
Total domestic and foreign 01 Agriculture Total employed persons 2020* 5 5 0 0 15 15 0 0
Total domestic and foreign 01 Agriculture 0 to 49 employed persons 2020* 0 0 0 0 10 10 0 0
Total domestic and foreign 01 Agriculture 50 to 249 employed persons 2020* 0 0 0 0 5 5 0 0
Total domestic and foreign 01 Agriculture 250 and more employed persons 2020* 0 5 0 0 . . . .
Total domestic and foreign 01 Agriculture Employed persons unknown 2020* . . . . . . . .
Total domestic and foreign 02 Forestry and logging Total employed persons 2020* . . . . . . . .
Total domestic and foreign 02 Forestry and logging 0 to 49 employed persons 2020* . . . . . . . .
Total domestic and foreign 02 Forestry and logging 50 to 249 employed persons 2020* . . . . . . . .
Total domestic and foreign 02 Forestry and logging 250 and more employed persons 2020* . . . . . . . .
Total domestic and foreign 02 Forestry and logging Employed persons unknown 2020* . . . . . . . .
Total domestic and foreign 03 Fishing and aquaculture Total employed persons 2020* . . . . . . . .
Total domestic and foreign 03 Fishing and aquaculture 0 to 49 employed persons 2020* . . . . . . . .
Total domestic and foreign 03 Fishing and aquaculture 50 to 249 employed persons 2020* . . . . . . . .
Total domestic and foreign 03 Fishing and aquaculture 250 and more employed persons 2020* . . . . . . . .
Total domestic and foreign 03 Fishing and aquaculture Employed persons unknown 2020* . . . . . . . .
Total domestic and foreign B Mining and quarrying Total employed persons 2020* 5 10 0 0 5 10 0 0
Total domestic and foreign B Mining and quarrying 0 to 49 employed persons 2020* 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total domestic and foreign B Mining and quarrying 50 to 249 employed persons 2020* 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 0
Total domestic and foreign B Mining and quarrying 250 and more employed persons 2020* 0 5 0 0 0 5 0 0
Total domestic and foreign B Mining and quarrying Employed persons unknown 2020* . . . . . . . .
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 06 Extraction of crude petroleum and gas Total employed persons 2020* . . . . . . . .
Total domestic and foreign 06 Extraction of crude petroleum and gas 0 to 49 employed persons 2020* . . . . . . . .
Total domestic and foreign 06 Extraction of crude petroleum and gas 50 to 249 employed persons 2020* . . . . . . . .
Total domestic and foreign 06 Extraction of crude petroleum and gas 250 and more employed persons 2020* . . . . . . . .
Total domestic and foreign 06 Extraction of crude petroleum and gas Employed persons unknown 2020* . . . . . . . .
Total domestic and foreign 08 Mining and quarrying (no oil and gas) Total employed persons 2020* 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total domestic and foreign 08 Mining and quarrying (no oil and gas) 0 to 49 employed persons 2020* . . . . . . . .
Total domestic and foreign 08 Mining and quarrying (no oil and gas) 50 to 249 employed persons 2020* . . . . 0 0 0 0
Total domestic and foreign 08 Mining and quarrying (no oil and gas) 250 and more employed persons 2020* 0 5 0 0 . . . .
Total domestic and foreign 08 Mining and quarrying (no oil and gas) Employed persons unknown 2020* . . . . . . . .
Total domestic and foreign 09 Mining support activities Total employed persons 2020* 5 5 0 0 5 10 0 0
Total domestic and foreign 09 Mining support activities 0 to 49 employed persons 2020* 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total domestic and foreign 09 Mining support activities 50 to 249 employed persons 2020* 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 0
Total domestic and foreign 09 Mining support activities 250 and more employed persons 2020* 0 5 0 0 0 5 0 0
Total domestic and foreign 09 Mining support activities Employed persons unknown 2020* . . . . . . . .
Total domestic and foreign C Manufacturing Total employed persons 2020* 285 2,205 15 40 295 590 0 5
Total domestic and foreign C Manufacturing 0 to 49 employed persons 2020* 105 150 0 0 140 165 0 0
Total domestic and foreign C Manufacturing 50 to 249 employed persons 2020* 85 175 5 5 90 140 0 0
Total domestic and foreign C Manufacturing 250 and more employed persons 2020* 90 1,875 10 35 65 285 0 5
Total domestic and foreign C Manufacturing Employed persons unknown 2020* 5 5 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total domestic and foreign 10-12 Manufacture of food and beverages Total employed persons 2020* 15 55 0 0 15 30 0 0
Total domestic and foreign 10-12 Manufacture of food and beverages 0 to 49 employed persons 2020* 5 5 0 0 5 5 0 0
Total domestic and foreign 10-12 Manufacture of food and beverages 50 to 249 employed persons 2020* . . . . 0 5 0 0
Total domestic and foreign 10-12 Manufacture of food and beverages 250 and more employed persons 2020* 10 50 0 0 10 20 0 0
Total domestic and foreign 10-12 Manufacture of food and beverages Employed persons unknown 2020* . . . . . . . .
Total domestic and foreign 10 Manufacture of food products Total employed persons 2020* 15 40 0 0 15 20 0 0
Total domestic and foreign 10 Manufacture of food products 0 to 49 employed persons 2020* 5 5 0 0 5 5 0 0
Total domestic and foreign 10 Manufacture of food products 50 to 249 employed persons 2020* . . . . 0 5 0 0
Total domestic and foreign 10 Manufacture of food products 250 and more employed persons 2020* 10 35 0 0 10 10 0 0
Total domestic and foreign 10 Manufacture of food products Employed persons unknown 2020* . . . . . . . .
Total domestic and foreign 11 Manufacture of beverages Total employed persons 2020* 0 15 0 0 0 10 0 0
Total domestic and foreign 11 Manufacture of beverages 0 to 49 employed persons 2020* . . . . 0 0 0 0
Total domestic and foreign 11 Manufacture of beverages 50 to 249 employed persons 2020* . . . . . . . .
Total domestic and foreign 11 Manufacture of beverages 250 and more employed persons 2020* 0 15 0 0 0 10 0 0
Total domestic and foreign 11 Manufacture of beverages Employed persons unknown 2020* . . . . . . . .
Total domestic and foreign 12 Manufacture of tobacco products Total employed persons 2020* . . . . . . . .
Total domestic and foreign 12 Manufacture of tobacco products 0 to 49 employed persons 2020* . . . . . . . .
Total domestic and foreign 12 Manufacture of tobacco products 50 to 249 employed persons 2020* . . . . . . . .
Total domestic and foreign 12 Manufacture of tobacco products 250 and more employed persons 2020* . . . . . . . .
Total domestic and foreign 12 Manufacture of tobacco products Employed persons unknown 2020* . . . . . . . .
Total domestic and foreign 13 Manufacture of textiles Total employed persons 2020* 5 5 0 0 5 10 0 0
Total domestic and foreign 13 Manufacture of textiles 0 to 49 employed persons 2020* 0 0 0 0 5 5 0 0
Total domestic and foreign 13 Manufacture of textiles 50 to 249 employed persons 2020* 0 0 0 0 . . . .
Total domestic and foreign 13 Manufacture of textiles 250 and more employed persons 2020* 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 0
Total domestic and foreign 13 Manufacture of textiles Employed persons unknown 2020* . . . . . . . .
Total domestic and foreign 13-15 Man. of textile-, leatherproducts Total employed persons 2020* 5 10 0 0 10 15 0 0
Total domestic and foreign 13-15 Man. of textile-, leatherproducts 0 to 49 employed persons 2020* 5 5 0 0 10 10 0 0
Total domestic and foreign 13-15 Man. of textile-, leatherproducts 50 to 249 employed persons 2020* 0 0 0 0 . . . .
Total domestic and foreign 13-15 Man. of textile-, leatherproducts 250 and more employed persons 2020* 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 0
Total domestic and foreign 13-15 Man. of textile-, leatherproducts Employed persons unknown 2020* . . . . . . . .
Total domestic and foreign 14 Manufacture of wearing apparel Total employed persons 2020* 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total domestic and foreign 14 Manufacture of wearing apparel 0 to 49 employed persons 2020* 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total domestic and foreign 14 Manufacture of wearing apparel 50 to 249 employed persons 2020* . . . . . . . .
Total domestic and foreign 14 Manufacture of wearing apparel 250 and more employed persons 2020* . . . . . . . .
Total domestic and foreign 14 Manufacture of wearing apparel 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.