Patent applicants and applications; SIC 2008 and company size

Changed on: 26/02/2025 02:00

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	2013	910	4,130	70	545	1,160	1,490	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	A-U All economic activities	Total employed persons	2014	910	4,385	70	440	1,175	1,660	15	15
Total domestic and foreign	A-U All economic activities	Total employed persons	2015	925	4,585	70	455	1,135	1,705	10	10
Total domestic and foreign	A-U All economic activities	Total employed persons	2016	910	4,195	65	455	1,115	1,615	10	10
Total domestic and foreign	A-U All economic activities	Total employed persons	2017	905	4,260	50	365	1,100	1,665	10	10
Total domestic and foreign	A-U All economic activities	Total employed persons	2018	900	4,195	80	365	1,075	1,635	15	15
Total domestic and foreign	A-U All economic activities	Total employed persons	2019	935	4,270	75	380	1,065	1,720	15	15
Total domestic and foreign	A-U All economic activities	Total employed persons	2020**	975	4,245	85	485	1,105	1,645	20	20
Total domestic and foreign	A-U All economic activities	Total employed persons	2021*	830	3,465	60	375	1,100	1,635	20	15
Total domestic and foreign	A Agriculture, forestry and fishing	Total employed persons	2013	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
Total domestic and foreign	A Agriculture, forestry and fishing	Total employed persons	2014	10	20	0	0	25	25	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	A Agriculture, forestry and fishing	Total employed persons	2015	10	30	0	0	20	30	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	A Agriculture, forestry and fishing	Total employed persons	2016	10	30	0	0	15	20	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	A Agriculture, forestry and fishing	Total employed persons	2017	5	10	0	0	10	15	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	A Agriculture, forestry and fishing	Total employed persons	2018	5	10	0	0	10	10	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	A Agriculture, forestry and fishing	Total employed persons	2019	5	10	0	0	15	15	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	A Agriculture, forestry and fishing	Total employed persons	2020**	5	10	0	0	15	15	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	A Agriculture, forestry and fishing	Total employed persons	2021*	10	15	0	0	20	25	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	B Mining and quarrying	Total employed persons	2013	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
Total domestic and foreign	B Mining and quarrying	Total employed persons	2014	5	135	0	115	5	5	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	B Mining and quarrying	Total employed persons	2015	5	120	0	105	5	10	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	B Mining and quarrying	Total employed persons	2016	5	110	0	105	5	10	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	B Mining and quarrying	Total employed persons	2017	0	5	0	0	0	5	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	B Mining and quarrying	Total employed persons	2018	0	5	0	0	0	5	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	B Mining and quarrying	Total employed persons	2019	5	5	0	0	5	5	0	0
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	Total employed persons	2021*	5	5	0	0	5	5	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	C Manufacturing	Total employed persons	2013	240	2,595	20	295	265	425	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	C Manufacturing	Total employed persons	2014	240	2,805	20	225	245	525	5	10
Total domestic and foreign	C Manufacturing	Total employed persons	2015	270	3,105	20	215	250	605	5	5
Total domestic and foreign	C Manufacturing	Total employed persons	2016	290	2,905	20	265	290	570	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	C Manufacturing	Total employed persons	2017	260	2,770	15	115	265	630	5	5
Total domestic and foreign	C Manufacturing	Total employed persons	2018	270	2,610	30	105	260	605	5	5
Total domestic and foreign	C Manufacturing	Total employed persons	2019	295	2,645	25	50	270	690	5	5
Total domestic and foreign	C Manufacturing	Total employed persons	2020**	305	2,680	20	60	280	575	0	5
Total domestic and foreign	C Manufacturing	Total employed persons	2021*	260	2,215	15	45	275	540	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	D Energy supply	Total employed persons	2013	.	.	.	.	0	0	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	D Energy supply	Total employed persons	2014	5	5	0	0	5	10	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	D Energy supply	Total employed persons	2015	5	5	0	0	5	5	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	D Energy supply	Total employed persons	2016	5	5	0	0	5	10	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	D Energy supply	Total employed persons	2017	5	5	0	0	5	10	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	D Energy supply	Total employed persons	2018	5	5	0	0	5	10	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	D Energy supply	Total employed persons	2019	5	10	0	0	5	10	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	D Energy supply	Total employed persons	2020**	5	5	0	0	5	5	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	D Energy supply	Total employed persons	2021*	5	10	0	0	10	10	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	E Water supply and waste management	Total employed persons	2013	0	0	0	0	5	5	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	E Water supply and waste management	Total employed persons	2014	5	5	0	0	5	5	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	E Water supply and waste management	Total employed persons	2015	5	5	0	0	10	10	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	E Water supply and waste management	Total employed persons	2016	5	5	0	0	5	5	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	E Water supply and waste management	Total employed persons	2017	5	5	0	0	5	5	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	E Water supply and waste management	Total employed persons	2018	5	5	0	0	5	5	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	E Water supply and waste management	Total employed persons	2019	5	5	0	0	5	5	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	E Water supply and waste management	Total employed persons	2020**	10	10	0	0	5	5	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	E Water supply and waste management	Total employed persons	2021*	5	10	0	0	5	10	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	F Construction	Total employed persons	2013	15	20	0	0	55	70	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	F Construction	Total employed persons	2014	15	20	0	0	45	50	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	F Construction	Total employed persons	2015	20	30	5	5	55	75	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	F Construction	Total employed persons	2016	20	30	0	0	50	60	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	F Construction	Total employed persons	2017	25	35	0	5	40	60	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	F Construction	Total employed persons	2018	15	20	0	0	40	55	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	F Construction	Total employed persons	2019	15	25	0	0	40	50	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	F Construction	Total employed persons	2020**	15	25	0	0	40	55	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	F Construction	Total employed persons	2021*	25	25	0	0	45	65	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	G Wholesale and retail trade	Total employed persons	2013	100	210	5	20	150	200	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	G Wholesale and retail trade	Total employed persons	2014	125	265	5	25	160	210	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	G Wholesale and retail trade	Total employed persons	2015	110	185	5	10	160	205	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	G Wholesale and retail trade	Total employed persons	2016	100	190	5	10	155	205	5	5
Total domestic and foreign	G Wholesale and retail trade	Total employed persons	2017	110	295	5	70	140	190	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	G Wholesale and retail trade	Total employed persons	2018	90	205	0	25	125	170	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	G Wholesale and retail trade	Total employed persons	2019	110	205	5	10	130	190	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	G Wholesale and retail trade	Total employed persons	2020**	95	160	10	10	130	145	5	5
Total domestic and foreign	G Wholesale and retail trade	Total employed persons	2021*	85	130	5	10	120	155	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	H Transportation and storage	Total employed persons	2013	5	10	0	0	10	10	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	H Transportation and storage	Total employed persons	2014	5	15	0	0	10	15	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	H Transportation and storage	Total employed persons	2015	10	10	0	0	10	20	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	H Transportation and storage	Total employed persons	2016	10	15	0	0	10	15	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	H Transportation and storage	Total employed persons	2017	5	10	0	0	5	15	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	H Transportation and storage	Total employed persons	2018	5	10	0	0	10	10	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	H Transportation and storage	Total employed persons	2019	10	15	0	0	5	10	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	H Transportation and storage	Total employed persons	2020**	5	10	0	0	10	15	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	H Transportation and storage	Total employed persons	2021*	5	5	0	0	10	20	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	I Accommodation and food serving	Total employed persons	2013	.	.	.	.	0	0	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	I Accommodation and food serving	Total employed persons	2014	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	I Accommodation and food serving	Total employed persons	2015	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	I Accommodation and food serving	Total employed persons	2016	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	I Accommodation and food serving	Total employed persons	2017	0	0	0	0	5	5	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	I Accommodation and food serving	Total employed persons	2018	5	5	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	I Accommodation and food serving	Total employed persons	2019	0	0	0	0	5	5	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	I Accommodation and food serving	Total employed persons	2020**	.	.	.	.	5	5	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	I Accommodation and food serving	Total employed persons	2021*	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	J Information and communication	Total employed persons	2013	30	175	5	25	30	30	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	J Information and communication	Total employed persons	2014	25	155	0	15	30	30	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	J Information and communication	Total employed persons	2015	25	155	5	15	30	40	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	J Information and communication	Total employed persons	2016	30	135	0	5	40	40	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	J Information and communication	Total employed persons	2017	25	135	0	10	40	45	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	J Information and communication	Total employed persons	2018	25	190	5	10	25	35	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	J Information and communication	Total employed persons	2019	25	170	0	15	20	30	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	J Information and communication	Total employed persons	2020**	30	135	5	5	35	45	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	J Information and communication	Total employed persons	2021*	45	95	0	0	45	60	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	K Financial institutions	Total employed persons	2013	15	20	0	0	35	50	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	K Financial institutions	Total employed persons	2014	20	25	0	0	25	35	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	K Financial institutions	Total employed persons	2015	15	35	0	0	30	60	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	K Financial institutions	Total employed persons	2016	10	15	0	0	20	25	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	K Financial institutions	Total employed persons	2017	15	25	0	10	30	30	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	K Financial institutions	Total employed persons	2018	20	30	0	5	20	25	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	K Financial institutions	Total employed persons	2019	20	40	0	0	25	30	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	K Financial institutions	Total employed persons	2020**	15	20	0	0	25	25	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	K Financial institutions	Total employed persons	2021*	15	20	0	5	30	30	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	L Renting, buying, selling real estate	Total employed persons	2013	5	5	0	0	5	5	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	L Renting, buying, selling real estate	Total employed persons	2014	5	5	0	0	5	10	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	L Renting, buying, selling real estate	Total employed persons	2015	0	0	0	0	5	5	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	L Renting, buying, selling real estate	Total employed persons	2016	5	5	0	0	5	5	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	L Renting, buying, selling real estate	Total employed persons	2017	5	5	0	0	5	5	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	L Renting, buying, selling real estate	Total employed persons	2018	0	0	0	0	5	5	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	L Renting, buying, selling real estate	Total employed persons	2019	.	.	.	.	5	5	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	L Renting, buying, selling real estate	Total employed persons	2020**	0	0	0	0	5	5	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	L Renting, buying, selling real estate	Total employed persons	2021*	0	0	0	0	5	5	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	M Other specialised business services	Total employed persons	2013	105	265	5	10	170	220	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	M Other specialised business services	Total employed persons	2014	125	275	5	10	175	235	5	5
Total domestic and foreign	M Other specialised business services	Total employed persons	2015	110	330	10	25	170	240	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	M Other specialised business services	Total employed persons	2016	140	335	15	25	170	255	5	5
Total domestic and foreign	M Other specialised business services	Total employed persons	2017	150	350	5	20	160	210	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	M Other specialised business services	Total employed persons	2018	140	325	10	15	155	210	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	M Other specialised business services	Total employed persons	2019	170	390	15	20	190	255	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	M Other specialised business services	Total employed persons	2020**	185	390	20	25	195	270	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	M Other specialised business services	Total employed persons	2021*	165	455	15	170	210	295	5	5
Total domestic and foreign	N Renting and other business support	Total employed persons	2013	10	95	0	5	25	45	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	N Renting and other business support	Total employed persons	2014	10	115	0	0	20	50	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	N Renting and other business support	Total employed persons	2015	10	20	0	5	25	35	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	N Renting and other business support	Total employed persons	2016	15	30	0	0	20	35	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	N Renting and other business support	Total employed persons	2017	20	160	0	0	15	30	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	N Renting and other business support	Total employed persons	2018	20	65	0	25	20	35	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	N Renting and other business support	Total employed persons	2019	15	140	5	105	20	25	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	N Renting and other business support	Total employed persons	2020**	20	160	0	125	25	35	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	N Renting and other business support	Total employed persons	2021*	20	120	0	90	30	35	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	O Public administration and services	Total employed persons	2013	5	5	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	O Public administration and services	Total employed persons	2014	.	.	.	.	0	0	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	O Public administration and services	Total employed persons	2015	0	0	0	0	.	.	.	.
Total domestic and foreign	O Public administration and services	Total employed persons	2016	0	0	0	0	.	.	.	.
Total domestic and foreign	O Public administration and services	Total employed persons	2017	0	5	0	0	.	.	.	.
Total domestic and foreign	O Public administration and services	Total employed persons	2018	0	0	0	0	.	.	.	.
Total domestic and foreign	O Public administration and services	Total employed persons	2019	0	5	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	O Public administration and services	Total employed persons	2020**	0	5	0	0	.	.	.	.
Total domestic and foreign	O Public administration and services	Total employed persons	2021*	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
Total domestic and foreign	P Education	Total employed persons	2013	5	45	5	10	10	15	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	P Education	Total employed persons	2014	10	45	5	15	10	10	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	P Education	Total employed persons	2015	10	45	5	5	10	10	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	P Education	Total employed persons	2016	10	40	5	5	10	15	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	P Education	Total employed persons	2017	10	50	0	5	10	25	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	P Education	Total employed persons	2018	10	75	5	15	10	35	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	P Education	Total employed persons	2019	15	55	10	10	10	55	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	P Education	Total employed persons	2020**	10	70	5	15	15	35	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	P Education	Total employed persons	2021*	10	45	5	10	10	35	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	Q Health and social work activities	Total employed persons	2013	20	30	0	0	10	10	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	Q Health and social work activities	Total employed persons	2014	25	35	5	5	10	10	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	Q Health and social work activities	Total employed persons	2015	10	25	0	0	10	10	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	Q Health and social work activities	Total employed persons	2016	15	30	0	0	10	10	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	Q Health and social work activities	Total employed persons	2017	15	25	5	5	15	15	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	Q Health and social work activities	Total employed persons	2018	10	30	5	5	10	20	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	Q Health and social work activities	Total employed persons	2019	15	35	5	5	10	10	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	Q Health and social work activities	Total employed persons	2020**	25	50	5	10	15	30	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	Q Health and social work activities	Total employed persons	2021*	15	35	5	10	15	20	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	R Culture, sports and recreation	Total employed persons	2013	5	175	0	155	10	50	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	R Culture, sports and recreation	Total employed persons	2014	5	15	0	0	5	45	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	R Culture, sports and recreation	Total employed persons	2015	5	10	0	0	5	25	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	R Culture, sports and recreation	Total employed persons	2016	5	10	0	0	5	40	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	R Culture, sports and recreation	Total employed persons	2017	0	0	0	0	5	20	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	R Culture, sports and recreation	Total employed persons	2018	5	10	0	0	5	40	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	R Culture, sports and recreation	Total employed persons	2019	0	20	0	5	5	30	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	R Culture, sports and recreation	Total employed persons	2020**	0	20	0	0	5	50	0	5
Total domestic and foreign	R Culture, sports and recreation	Total employed persons	2021*	0	20	0	5	5	60	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	S Other service activities	Total employed persons	2013	0	5	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	S Other service activities	Total employed persons	2014	5	10	0	0	5	5	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	S Other service activities	Total employed persons	2015	5	5	0	0	5	5	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	S Other service activities	Total employed persons	2016	5	10	0	0	5	5	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	S Other service activities	Total employed persons	2017	5	5	0	0	5	5	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	S Other service activities	Total employed persons	2018	0	5	0	0	5	5	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	S Other service activities	Total employed persons	2019	5	5	0	0	5	5	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	S Other service activities	Total employed persons	2020**	5	5	0	0	0	0	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	S Other service activities	Total employed persons	2021*	0	5	0	0	5	10	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	T Activities of households	Total employed persons	2013	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
Total domestic and foreign	T Activities of households	Total employed persons	2014	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
Total domestic and foreign	T Activities of households	Total employed persons	2015	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
Total domestic and foreign	T Activities of households	Total employed persons	2016	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
Total domestic and foreign	T Activities of households	Total employed persons	2017	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
Total domestic and foreign	T Activities of households	Total employed persons	2018	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
Total domestic and foreign	T Activities of households	Total employed persons	2019	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
Total domestic and foreign	T Activities of households	Total employed persons	2020**	.	.	.	.	0	0	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	T Activities of households	Total employed persons	2021*	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
Total domestic and foreign	U Extraterritorial organisations	Total employed persons	2013	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
Total domestic and foreign	U Extraterritorial organisations	Total employed persons	2014	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
Total domestic and foreign	U Extraterritorial organisations	Total employed persons	2015	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
Total domestic and foreign	U Extraterritorial organisations	Total employed persons	2016	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
Total domestic and foreign	U Extraterritorial organisations	Total employed persons	2017	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
Total domestic and foreign	U Extraterritorial organisations	Total employed persons	2018	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
Total domestic and foreign	U Extraterritorial organisations	Total employed persons	2019	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
Total domestic and foreign	U Extraterritorial organisations	Total employed persons	2020**	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
Total domestic and foreign	U Extraterritorial organisations	Total employed persons	2021*	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.
Total domestic and foreign	Unknown	Total employed persons	2013	345	480	25	25	385	345	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	Unknown	Total employed persons	2014	275	440	20	20	385	390	5	0
Total domestic and foreign	Unknown	Total employed persons	2015	300	465	20	60	330	325	5	5
Total domestic and foreign	Unknown	Total employed persons	2016	235	290	10	35	290	295	0	0
Total domestic and foreign	Unknown	Total employed persons	2017	245	370	15	130	345	350	5	5
Total domestic and foreign	Unknown	Total employed persons	2018	265	590	25	165	365	355	5	5
Total domestic and foreign	Unknown	Total employed persons	2019	220	500	10	160	300	290	5	5
Total domestic and foreign	Unknown	Total employed persons	2020**	240	485	20	230	295	315	5	5
Total domestic and foreign	Unknown	Total employed persons	2021*	150	250	10	40	255	255	5	5
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 26 February 2025:
Provisional figures for 2020 and 2021 have been updated.
For applicants with the attribute 'unknown' (branches, company size and country of ultimate controlling institutional unit), no link is available with the General Business Register. In the past, links for these applicants were forwarded from other statistical years where a link was possible, but for the sake of consistency with the General Business Register, a link is only assigned if the company is actually listed in the General Business Register in the same year as the patent application. The change results in approximately 10 to 120 patent applicants per statistical year no longer being linked to the register and receiving the attribute ‘unknown’. These are mostly companies that are newly created and not yet included in the register or companies that have just ceased to exist in the same year that the patent application was registered.
In recent years, there have also been changes to the PATSTAT source data for statistical years that have since been given a 'final' status. Patents may still have been added to the PATSTAT database with long delays, or they may have been removed from the database. This revision makes all statistical years consistent with the most recent PATSTAT source data which was made available at the end of 2024. The adjustment affects at most a few dozen patent applications per statistical year (increase or decrease).

Changes as of 12 July 2024:
The figures for 2019 and 2020 have been adjusted and the provisional figures for 2021 have been added.

When will new figures be published?
Mid 2025 the figures for 2020 and 2021 will be updated and new figures for 2022 will be added. Beginning of 2026 the figures for 2021 and 2022 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.