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	2023*	.	.	.	.	950	1,470	20	20
I Electrical engineering	2023*	.	.	.	.	177	257	4	4
1 Electrical machinery, apparatus, energ	2023*	.	.	.	.	95	115	3	3
2 Audio-visual technology	2023*	.	.	.	.	23	26	1	1
3 Telecommunications	2023*	.	.	.	.	14	15	0	0
4 Digital communication	2023*	.	.	.	.	11	13	1	1
5 Basic communication processes	2023*	.	.	.	.	9	19	0	0
6 Computer technology	2023*	.	.	.	.	46	61	0	0
7 IT methods for management	2023*	.	.	.	.	19	19	0	0
8 Semiconductors	2023*	.	.	.	.	14	23	0	0
II Instruments	2023*	.	.	.	.	189	276	7	8
9 Optics	2023*	.	.	.	.	23	34	0	0
10 Measurement	2023*	.	.	.	.	64	102	1	1
11 Analysis of biological materials	2023*	.	.	.	.	19	24	0	0
12 Control	2023*	.	.	.	.	35	38	1	1
13 Medical technology	2023*	.	.	.	.	84	107	5	6
III Chemistry	2023*	.	.	.	.	220	314	5	5
14 Organic fine chemistry	2023*	.	.	.	.	9	9	0	0
15 Biotechnology	2023*	.	.	.	.	23	30	0	0
16 Pharmaceuticals	2023*	.	.	.	.	17	24	1	1
17 Macromolecular chemistry, polymers	2023*	.	.	.	.	17	26	1	1
18 Food chemistry	2023*	.	.	.	.	25	26	1	1
19 Basic materials chemistry	2023*	.	.	.	.	33	39	1	1
20 Materials, metallurgy	2023*	.	.	.	.	19	23	1	1
21 Surface technology, coating	2023*	.	.	.	.	39	45	1	1
22 Micro-structure and nano-technology	2023*	.	.	.	.	3	7	0	0
23 Chemical engineering	2023*	.	.	.	.	78	100	1	1
24 Environmental technology	2023*	.	.	.	.	56	71	2	2
IV Mechanical engineering	2023*	.	.	.	.	444	673	6	6
25 Handling	2023*	.	.	.	.	116	150	2	2
26 Machine tools	2023*	.	.	.	.	33	41	0	0
27 Engines, pumps, turbines	2023*	.	.	.	.	36	49	0	0
28 Textile and paper machines	2023*	.	.	.	.	17	18	0	0
29 Other special machines	2023*	.	.	.	.	140	225	1	1
30 Thermal processes and apparatus	2023*	.	.	.	.	71	77	2	2
31 Mechanical elements	2023*	.	.	.	.	45	50	0	0
32 Transport	2023*	.	.	.	.	107	162	1	1
V Other fields	2023*	.	.	.	.	269	322	1	1
33 Furniture, games	2023*	.	.	.	.	62	74	1	1
34 Other consumer goods	2023*	.	.	.	.	56	61	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.