Patent applicants and applications; technology field (WIPO concordance)

Changed on: 03/08/2026 02:00

Patent applicants and applications; technology field (WIPO concordance)
Technology area	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)
All technology areas	2017	905	4,260	50	365	1,100	1,665	10	10
All technology areas	2018	900	4,195	80	365	1,075	1,635	15	15
All technology areas	2019	935	4,270	75	380	1,065	1,720	15	15
All technology areas	2020	980	4,255	85	485	1,105	1,645	20	20
All technology areas	2021	975	4,310	70	515	1,100	1,635	20	15
All technology areas	2022**	915	4,565	75	525	900	1,450	10	15
All technology areas	2023*	.	.	.	.	950	1,470	20	20
I Electrical engineering	2017	173	1,268	14	81	182	243	1	1
I Electrical engineering	2018	178	1,207	17	74	162	234	3	3
I Electrical engineering	2019	186	1,222	16	101	151	219	3	3
I Electrical engineering	2020	187	1,273	26	120	176	261	7	6
I Electrical engineering	2021	200	1,256	18	119	178	242	4	4
I Electrical engineering	2022**	184	1,409	25	156	144	256	5	5
I Electrical engineering	2023*	.	.	.	.	177	257	4	4
1 Electrical machinery, apparatus, energ	2017	79	396	6	14	85	120	0	0
1 Electrical machinery, apparatus, energ	2018	77	355	7	10	76	108	1	1
1 Electrical machinery, apparatus, energ	2019	90	419	7	16	79	111	3	3
1 Electrical machinery, apparatus, energ	2020	84	410	10	22	84	109	1	2
1 Electrical machinery, apparatus, energ	2021	87	408	4	13	85	109	1	1
1 Electrical machinery, apparatus, energ	2022**	87	412	16	29	71	113	5	5
1 Electrical machinery, apparatus, energ	2023*	.	.	.	.	95	115	3	3
2 Audio-visual technology	2017	32	108	3	7	29	30	1	1
2 Audio-visual technology	2018	26	95	1	2	27	31	0	0
2 Audio-visual technology	2019	34	94	3	13	17	19	1	2
2 Audio-visual technology	2020	38	107	4	5	23	29	1	1
2 Audio-visual technology	2021	33	71	3	3	24	29	0	0
2 Audio-visual technology	2022**	25	87	2	2	21	27	0	0
2 Audio-visual technology	2023*	.	.	.	.	23	26	1	1
3 Telecommunications	2017	20	122	3	7	22	20	0	0
3 Telecommunications	2018	33	126	4	10	18	20	3	2
3 Telecommunications	2019	23	114	5	10	17	18	0	0
3 Telecommunications	2020	20	130	2	7	14	18	0	0
3 Telecommunications	2021	22	117	4	12	16	25	1	1
3 Telecommunications	2022**	26	122	4	8	11	11	0	0
3 Telecommunications	2023*	.	.	.	.	14	15	0	0
4 Digital communication	2017	42	223	5	23	24	23	0	0
4 Digital communication	2018	33	225	8	25	16	17	2	1
4 Digital communication	2019	28	190	5	21	16	16	0	0
4 Digital communication	2020	31	228	5	24	16	18	0	0
4 Digital communication	2021	28	174	8	26	12	13	0	0
4 Digital communication	2022**	31	211	7	28	10	11	0	0
4 Digital communication	2023*	.	.	.	.	11	13	1	1
5 Basic communication processes	2017	14	74	2	4	6	5	0	0
5 Basic communication processes	2018	13	80	3	5	4	7	0	0
5 Basic communication processes	2019	19	66	5	4	10	13	0	0
5 Basic communication processes	2020	13	55	2	2	9	15	0	0
5 Basic communication processes	2021	10	61	2	5	4	8	0	0
5 Basic communication processes	2022**	13	66	2	6	6	11	0	0
5 Basic communication processes	2023*	.	.	.	.	9	19	0	0
6 Computer technology	2017	58	421	8	34	37	39	0	0
6 Computer technology	2018	61	386	6	25	22	31	0	0
6 Computer technology	2019	64	388	8	43	21	27	0	0
6 Computer technology	2020	64	405	9	64	37	56	1	1
6 Computer technology	2021	81	438	11	69	49	55	3	2
6 Computer technology	2022**	73	527	10	84	42	74	0	0
6 Computer technology	2023*	.	.	.	.	46	61	0	0
7 IT methods for management	2017	22	43	2	5	24	26	0	0
7 IT methods for management	2018	18	41	1	9	25	24	0	0
7 IT methods for management	2019	19	54	1	10	17	16	0	0
7 IT methods for management	2020	33	63	8	22	23	26	1	1
7 IT methods for management	2021	16	51	1	16	11	11	0	0
7 IT methods for management	2022**	16	56	2	22	11	10	0	0
7 IT methods for management	2023*	.	.	.	.	19	19	0	0
8 Semiconductors	2017	25	126	3	6	20	27	0	0
8 Semiconductors	2018	23	96	3	7	16	29	0	0
8 Semiconductors	2019	26	118	2	3	12	26	0	0
8 Semiconductors	2020	29	96	3	4	17	27	3	1
8 Semiconductors	2021	20	151	3	6	14	28	0	0
8 Semiconductors	2022**	20	156	2	11	11	24	0	0
8 Semiconductors	2023*	.	.	.	.	14	23	0	0
II Instruments	2017	236	1,408	21	71	200	345	0	0
II Instruments	2018	237	1,378	25	80	210	402	6	5
II Instruments	2019	256	1,365	27	98	206	399	4	5
II Instruments	2020	250	1,273	26	104	222	351	4	4
II Instruments	2021	234	1,342	22	125	203	287	3	3
II Instruments	2022**	215	1,400	22	124	160	239	3	3
II Instruments	2023*	.	.	.	.	189	276	7	8
9 Optics	2017	34	244	2	3	21	134	0	0
9 Optics	2018	39	202	3	4	30	152	1	1
9 Optics	2019	49	224	7	10	23	149	0	0
9 Optics	2020	38	194	3	3	19	69	0	0
9 Optics	2021	42	236	6	4	23	29	0	0
9 Optics	2022**	45	205	3	6	21	31	0	0
9 Optics	2023*	.	.	.	.	23	34	0	0
10 Measurement	2017	91	437	10	44	66	68	0	0
10 Measurement	2018	97	456	8	32	77	102	0	0
10 Measurement	2019	95	465	9	55	77	100	0	0
10 Measurement	2020	106	422	8	59	67	107	1	1
10 Measurement	2021	87	376	7	70	72	102	0	0
10 Measurement	2022**	96	456	8	93	71	105	1	1
10 Measurement	2023*	.	.	.	.	64	102	1	1
11 Analysis of biological materials	2017	32	55	3	4	16	14	0	0
11 Analysis of biological materials	2018	29	71	7	14	13	23	1	1
11 Analysis of biological materials	2019	36	43	7	8	16	20	2	1
11 Analysis of biological materials	2020	44	69	9	11	16	22	0	0
11 Analysis of biological materials	2021	36	46	4	6	10	15	0	0
11 Analysis of biological materials	2022**	40	63	7	15	26	26	0	0
11 Analysis of biological materials	2023*	.	.	.	.	19	24	0	0
12 Control	2017	29	102	3	7	35	34	0	0
12 Control	2018	31	95	6	7	31	31	2	1
12 Control	2019	44	132	5	10	33	35	1	3
12 Control	2020	41	105	6	13	35	34	0	0
12 Control	2021	35	88	3	14	30	34	0	0
12 Control	2022**	31	74	5	10	23	29	0	0
12 Control	2023*	.	.	.	.	35	38	1	1
13 Medical technology	2017	123	752	11	20	93	113	0	0
13 Medical technology	2018	120	746	9	30	107	139	2	2
13 Medical technology	2019	124	695	13	24	101	126	1	1
13 Medical technology	2020	110	652	9	23	125	155	3	3
13 Medical technology	2021	113	738	11	37	103	135	3	3
13 Medical technology	2022**	94	724	9	11	62	75	2	2
13 Medical technology	2023*	.	.	.	.	84	107	5	6
III Chemistry	2017	300	1,164	24	196	223	276	2	1
III Chemistry	2018	312	1,248	41	207	209	269	2	3
III Chemistry	2019	351	1,281	44	167	245	316	7	5
III Chemistry	2020	360	1,313	41	248	240	299	5	6
III Chemistry	2021	348	1,276	38	274	239	311	5	5
III Chemistry	2022**	335	1,339	48	253	187	294	2	4
III Chemistry	2023*	.	.	.	.	220	314	5	5
14 Organic fine chemistry	2017	39	257	9	96	11	12	0	0
14 Organic fine chemistry	2018	52	259	13	89	8	9	1	1
14 Organic fine chemistry	2019	45	230	5	71	12	14	0	0
14 Organic fine chemistry	2020	35	220	7	106	2	2	0	0
14 Organic fine chemistry	2021	34	208	8	96	10	11	0	0
14 Organic fine chemistry	2022**	48	226	9	81	5	8	2	3
14 Organic fine chemistry	2023*	.	.	.	.	9	9	0	0
15 Biotechnology	2017	69	156	7	13	19	20	0	0
15 Biotechnology	2018	75	169	18	30	17	23	0	0
15 Biotechnology	2019	76	167	17	17	22	33	5	3
15 Biotechnology	2020	86	201	16	21	23	31	3	3
15 Biotechnology	2021	93	192	10	18	29	40	0	0
15 Biotechnology	2022**	81	198	19	24	21	39	0	0
15 Biotechnology	2023*	.	.	.	.	23	30	0	0
16 Pharmaceuticals	2017	81	197	11	29	27	46	0	0
16 Pharmaceuticals	2018	95	206	19	32	14	23	2	3
16 Pharmaceuticals	2019	81	202	13	21	32	35	2	2
16 Pharmaceuticals	2020	96	211	15	30	32	42	0	0
16 Pharmaceuticals	2021	79	190	10	22	21	26	1	1
16 Pharmaceuticals	2022**	74	212	18	39	22	35	1	3
16 Pharmaceuticals	2023*	.	.	.	.	17	24	1	1
17 Macromolecular chemistry, polymers	2017	36	159	1	2	16	16	0	0
17 Macromolecular chemistry, polymers	2018	41	203	5	11	15	17	0	0
17 Macromolecular chemistry, polymers	2019	43	189	3	4	5	5	0	0
17 Macromolecular chemistry, polymers	2020	47	181	7	9	8	13	0	0
17 Macromolecular chemistry, polymers	2021	35	159	7	8	14	18	0	0
17 Macromolecular chemistry, polymers	2022**	53	205	11	20	14	15	0	0
17 Macromolecular chemistry, polymers	2023*	.	.	.	.	17	26	1	1
18 Food chemistry	2017	53	164	4	21	40	50	2	1
18 Food chemistry	2018	48	196	6	29	27	35	0	0
18 Food chemistry	2019	55	183	5	9	43	46	1	1
18 Food chemistry	2020	54	165	7	12	41	52	0	0
18 Food chemistry	2021	72	190	8	14	40	45	0	0
18 Food chemistry	2022**	54	189	7	13	32	50	0	0
18 Food chemistry	2023*	.	.	.	.	25	26	1	1
19 Basic materials chemistry	2017	66	231	8	67	35	36	0	0
19 Basic materials chemistry	2018	63	238	13	80	28	32	0	0
19 Basic materials chemistry	2019	87	242	10	56	41	53	2	2
19 Basic materials chemistry	2020	64	304	13	100	25	25	2	3
19 Basic materials chemistry	2021	78	348	10	142	49	49	1	1
19 Basic materials chemistry	2022**	71	311	15	108	22	38	0	0
19 Basic materials chemistry	2023*	.	.	.	.	33	39	1	1
20 Materials, metallurgy	2017	30	55	2	2	21	21	0	0
20 Materials, metallurgy	2018	32	69	1	1	24	27	0	0
20 Materials, metallurgy	2019	41	80	2	2	21	25	0	0
20 Materials, metallurgy	2020	40	76	5	8	15	18	0	0
20 Materials, metallurgy	2021	52	74	6	9	24	26	1	1
20 Materials, metallurgy	2022**	38	82	5	15	18	23	1	1
20 Materials, metallurgy	2023*	.	.	.	.	19	23	1	1
21 Surface technology, coating	2017	31	65	2	3	20	25	0	0
21 Surface technology, coating	2018	42	88	5	5	21	30	0	0
21 Surface technology, coating	2019	45	93	5	5	34	39	0	0
21 Surface technology, coating	2020	56	87	3	4	31	37	0	0
21 Surface technology, coating	2021	44	84	3	7	29	34	0	0
21 Surface technology, coating	2022**	50	89	3	5	27	35	0	0
21 Surface technology, coating	2023*	.	.	.	.	39	45	1	1
22 Micro-structure and nano-technology	2017	9	7	2	1	6	7	0	0
22 Micro-structure and nano-technology	2018	7	10	0	0	2	2	0	0
22 Micro-structure and nano-technology	2019	9	11	1	1	6	4	0	0
22 Micro-structure and nano-technology	2020	8	9	1	1	1	1	0	0
22 Micro-structure and nano-technology	2021	8	16	1	1	2	3	1	1
22 Micro-structure and nano-technology	2022**	9	13	0	0	4	5	0	0
22 Micro-structure and nano-technology	2023*	.	.	.	.	3	7	0	0
23 Chemical engineering	2017	71	152	5	5	48	48	0	0
23 Chemical engineering	2018	83	160	5	5	74	80	0	0
23 Chemical engineering	2019	93	200	5	17	67	77	0	0
23 Chemical engineering	2020	88	179	10	17	72	84	0	0
23 Chemical engineering	2021	91	154	14	22	69	84	3	3
23 Chemical engineering	2022**	80	169	9	22	49	66	1	1
23 Chemical engineering	2023*	.	.	.	.	78	100	1	1
24 Environmental technology	2017	55	85	2	3	63	57	0	0
24 Environmental technology	2018	47	87	5	6	55	65	0	0
24 Environmental technology	2019	63	90	4	5	63	68	0	0
24 Environmental technology	2020	62	85	4	4	57	62	1	1
24 Environmental technology	2021	46	70	7	9	52	59	1	1
24 Environmental technology	2022**	52	94	5	9	45	52	0	0
24 Environmental technology	2023*	.	.	.	.	56	71	2	2
IV Mechanical engineering	2017	396	927	13	39	540	750	6	5
IV Mechanical engineering	2018	401	863	29	36	544	726	6	4
IV Mechanical engineering	2019	436	978	27	44	522	787	7	8
IV Mechanical engineering	2020	442	941	28	59	538	749	4	4
IV Mechanical engineering	2021	447	957	24	65	531	775	5	5
IV Mechanical engineering	2022**	446	991	26	44	481	697	7	6
IV Mechanical engineering	2023*	.	.	.	.	444	673	6	6
25 Handling	2017	114	189	4	16	152	195	1	1
25 Handling	2018	109	166	6	9	120	157	0	0
25 Handling	2019	120	177	9	16	114	164	1	1
25 Handling	2020	119	188	7	15	138	175	1	1
25 Handling	2021	102	182	9	29	118	167	2	2
25 Handling	2022**	108	183	3	2	115	165	1	1
25 Handling	2023*	.	.	.	.	116	150	2	2
26 Machine tools	2017	29	69	2	2	40	40	1	1
26 Machine tools	2018	27	68	1	1	37	37	0	0
26 Machine tools	2019	33	84	2	2	38	51	0	0
26 Machine tools	2020	37	62	3	3	38	39	0	0
26 Machine tools	2021	41	77	1	1	35	35	0	0
26 Machine tools	2022**	35	74	2	1	32	40	0	0
26 Machine tools	2023*	.	.	.	.	33	41	0	0
27 Engines, pumps, turbines	2017	45	66	1	2	48	64	0	0
27 Engines, pumps, turbines	2018	28	52	3	5	36	50	0	0
27 Engines, pumps, turbines	2019	33	56	1	1	39	39	0	0
27 Engines, pumps, turbines	2020	33	51	2	8	42	54	0	0
27 Engines, pumps, turbines	2021	42	77	3	8	38	60	0	0
27 Engines, pumps, turbines	2022**	44	77	4	9	41	54	2	2
27 Engines, pumps, turbines	2023*	.	.	.	.	36	49	0	0
28 Textile and paper machines	2017	37	106	3	6	27	32	0	0
28 Textile and paper machines	2018	36	82	6	8	21	25	0	0
28 Textile and paper machines	2019	31	65	3	5	26	40	0	0
28 Textile and paper machines	2020	29	50	0	0	17	21	0	0
28 Textile and paper machines	2021	33	49	1	7	22	29	1	1
28 Textile and paper machines	2022**	29	62	2	2	12	13	0	0
28 Textile and paper machines	2023*	.	.	.	.	17	18	0	0
29 Other special machines	2017	130	309	5	7	156	210	3	2
29 Other special machines	2018	143	298	6	6	168	239	0	0
29 Other special machines	2019	161	347	9	9	169	260	3	3
29 Other special machines	2020	161	317	13	23	185	254	2	2
29 Other special machines	2021	167	317	7	11	192	281	2	2
29 Other special machines	2022**	168	333	12	21	173	248	2	2
29 Other special machines	2023*	.	.	.	.	140	225	1	1
30 Thermal processes and apparatus	2017	38	62	0	0	56	58	0	0
30 Thermal processes and apparatus	2018	44	61	6	3	65	65	4	2
30 Thermal processes and apparatus	2019	55	77	3	4	66	83	0	0
30 Thermal processes and apparatus	2020	51	81	3	3	60	63	0	0
30 Thermal processes and apparatus	2021	53	98	7	7	58	66	0	0
30 Thermal processes and apparatus	2022**	52	128	1	1	60	72	0	0
30 Thermal processes and apparatus	2023*	.	.	.	.	71	77	2	2
31 Mechanical elements	2017	53	89	2	4	59	83	0	0
31 Mechanical elements	2018	61	84	5	6	73	80	2	2
31 Mechanical elements	2019	62	100	5	7	71	78	3	4
31 Mechanical elements	2020	74	98	9	12	57	62	1	1
31 Mechanical elements	2021	70	94	3	4	64	80	0	0
31 Mechanical elements	2022**	64	97	5	5	52	61	1	1
31 Mechanical elements	2023*	.	.	.	.	45	50	0	0
32 Transport	2017	95	160	3	4	122	163	1	1
32 Transport	2018	85	147	5	5	129	159	1	1
32 Transport	2019	101	194	7	8	105	156	2	2
32 Transport	2020	106	232	9	12	115	177	1	1
32 Transport	2021	94	192	5	5	114	169	1	1
32 Transport	2022**	93	151	8	7	101	149	3	2
32 Transport	2023*	.	.	.	.	107	162	1	1
V Other fields	2017	201	418	8	59	322	384	6	6
V Other fields	2018	198	402	9	36	325	376	1	1
V Other fields	2019	186	437	5	79	329	389	1	2
V Other fields	2020	203	456	4	97	315	360	3	3
V Other fields	2021	199	446	10	108	311	360	4	2
V Other fields	2022**	173	447	5	121	226	259	0	0
V Other fields	2023*	.	.	.	.	269	322	1	1
33 Furniture, games	2017	53	105	6	7	87	94	3	4
33 Furniture, games	2018	67	136	3	4	106	111	0	0
33 Furniture, games	2019	54	124	1	2	91	98	0	0
33 Furniture, games	2020	66	130	2	4	94	105	0	0
33 Furniture, games	2021	52	105	3	2	83	93	0	0
33 Furniture, games	2022**	42	99	2	2	46	48	0	0
33 Furniture, games	2023*	.	.	.	.	62	74	1	1
34 Other consumer goods	2017	53	133	4	12	75	74	0	0
34 Other consumer goods	2018	40	110	3	5	61	64	0	0
34 Other consumer goods	2019	50	125	3	9	64	59	0	0
34 Other consumer goods	2020	46	106	1	6	80	80	1	1
34 Other consumer goods	2021	43	92	4	9	60	61	0	0
34 Other consumer goods	2022**	36	85	1	5	33	32	0	0
34 Other consumer goods	2023*	.	.	.	.	56	61	0	0
35 Civil engineering	2017	120	204	3	44	178	226	3	2
35 Civil engineering	2018	107	170	4	28	172	207	1	1
35 Civil engineering	2019	103	210	3	69	191	245	1	2
35 Civil engineering	2020	116	244	2	89	168	198	2	2
35 Civil engineering	2021	127	273	5	98	181	217	4	2
35 Civil engineering	2022**	109	273	3	115	156	187	0	0
35 Civil engineering	2023*	.	.	.	.	163	197	0	0
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 the technology field the invention relates to, according to the WIPO technology concordance table. This does not necessarily have to be the same area in which the applicant is economically active (SIC).

If a patent application relates to multiple technology fields, it is counted in full for each separate technology field. Due to this method the total number of patents for the subcategories are usually higher than the overarching category to which they belong. For example, a patent application relating to subcategories ‘1 Electrical machinery, apparatus, energy’ and ‘2 Audio-visual technology’ counts separately for both, but is only counted once under the overarching category ‘I Electrical engineering. This method of counting provides insight into how many patent applications can actually be attributed to the individual technology fields and which technology fields occur more frequently within the overarching categories.

Data available from: 2011

Status of the figures:
The figures from 2011 to 2021 are final. The figures for 2022 are revised provisional. The figures for 2023 are provisional.

Changes as of August 3, 2026:
The figures for 2021 and 2022 have been adjusted and the provisional figures for 2023 have been added.

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

When will new figures be published?
Beginning of 2027 the figures for 2022 and 2023 will be updated. Mid 2027 the figures for 2022 and 2023 will be updated and new figures for 2024 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.