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-N Business economy and agriculture Total employed persons 2021* 505 2,240 40 165 895 1,345 10 10
Total domestic and foreign A-N Business economy and agriculture 0 to 49 employed persons 2021* 300 400 15 50 640 770 5 5
Total domestic and foreign A-N Business economy and agriculture 50 to 249 employed persons 2021* 85 230 5 45 135 250 0 0
Total domestic and foreign A-N Business economy and agriculture 250 and more employed persons 2021* 115 1,600 20 70 100 305 0 0
Total domestic and foreign A-N Business economy and agriculture Employed persons unknown 2021* 10 10 0 0 15 20 0 0
Total domestic and foreign M-N Business services Total employed persons 2021* 140 340 20 120 275 365 5 5
Total domestic and foreign M-N Business services 0 to 49 employed persons 2021* 115 170 10 40 240 290 5 5
Total domestic and foreign M-N Business services 50 to 249 employed persons 2021* 15 75 5 40 15 55 0 0
Total domestic and foreign M-N Business services 250 and more employed persons 2021* 10 90 5 40 10 15 0 0
Total domestic and foreign M-N Business services Employed persons unknown 2021* 5 5 0 0 5 5 0 0
Total domestic and foreign M Other specialised business services Total employed persons 2021* 130 285 15 90 235 320 5 5
Total domestic and foreign M Other specialised business services 0 to 49 employed persons 2021* 105 160 10 40 205 250 5 5
Total domestic and foreign M Other specialised business services 50 to 249 employed persons 2021* 15 35 0 5 15 55 0 0
Total domestic and foreign M Other specialised business services 250 and more employed persons 2021* 10 90 5 40 10 15 0 0
Total domestic and foreign M Other specialised business services Employed persons unknown 2021* 0 0 0 0 5 5 0 0
Total domestic and foreign 74 Other specialised business services Total employed persons 2021* 5 5 0 0 20 30 0 0
Total domestic and foreign 74 Other specialised business services 0 to 49 employed persons 2021* 0 0 0 0 15 20 0 0
Total domestic and foreign 74 Other specialised business services 50 to 249 employed persons 2021* 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 0
Total domestic and foreign 74 Other specialised business services 250 and more employed persons 2021* . . . . . . . .
Total domestic and foreign 74 Other specialised business services Employed persons unknown 2021* . . . . 0 0 0 0
Total domestic and foreign N Renting and other business support Total employed persons 2021* 15 55 0 35 40 45 0 0
Total domestic and foreign N Renting and other business support 0 to 49 employed persons 2021* 10 15 0 0 35 40 0 0
Total domestic and foreign N Renting and other business support 50 to 249 employed persons 2021* 0 40 0 30 0 5 0 0
Total domestic and foreign N Renting and other business support 250 and more employed persons 2021* 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0
Total domestic and foreign N Renting and other business support Employed persons unknown 2021* 0 0 0 0 5 5 0 0
Total domestic and foreign 82 Other business services Total employed persons 2021* . . . . 0 0 0 0
Total domestic and foreign 82 Other business services 0 to 49 employed persons 2021* . . . . 0 0 0 0
Total domestic and foreign 82 Other business services 50 to 249 employed persons 2021* . . . . . . . .
Total domestic and foreign 82 Other business services 250 and more employed persons 2021* . . . . . . . .
Total domestic and foreign 82 Other business services Employed persons unknown 2021* . . . . . . . .
Domestic A-N Business economy and agriculture Total employed persons 2021* 390 1,740 25 70 810 1,155 5 5
Domestic A-N Business economy and agriculture 0 to 49 employed persons 2021* 275 360 15 45 620 745 5 5
Domestic A-N Business economy and agriculture 50 to 249 employed persons 2021* 50 75 0 0 100 185 0 0
Domestic A-N Business economy and agriculture 250 and more employed persons 2021* 55 1,295 10 20 70 210 0 0
Domestic A-N Business economy and agriculture Employed persons unknown 2021* 10 10 0 0 15 20 0 0
Domestic M-N Business services Total employed persons 2021* 130 230 15 45 270 355 5 5
Domestic M-N Business services 0 to 49 employed persons 2021* 105 160 10 40 235 285 5 5
Domestic M-N Business services 50 to 249 employed persons 2021* 10 15 0 0 15 55 0 0
Domestic M-N Business services 250 and more employed persons 2021* 10 50 5 5 10 15 0 0
Domestic M-N Business services Employed persons unknown 2021* 5 5 0 0 5 5 0 0
Domestic M Other specialised business services Total employed persons 2021* 115 215 10 45 230 310 5 5
Domestic M Other specialised business services 0 to 49 employed persons 2021* 100 150 10 40 205 245 5 5
Domestic M Other specialised business services 50 to 249 employed persons 2021* 10 15 0 0 15 50 0 0
Domestic M Other specialised business services 250 and more employed persons 2021* 5 50 5 5 10 10 0 0
Domestic M Other specialised business services Employed persons unknown 2021* 0 0 0 0 5 5 0 0
Domestic 74 Other specialised business services Total employed persons 2021* 0 0 0 0 20 30 0 0
Domestic 74 Other specialised business services 0 to 49 employed persons 2021* . . . . 15 20 0 0
Domestic 74 Other specialised business services 50 to 249 employed persons 2021* 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 0
Domestic 74 Other specialised business services 250 and more employed persons 2021* . . . . . . . .
Domestic 74 Other specialised business services Employed persons unknown 2021* . . . . 0 0 0 0
Domestic N Renting and other business support Total employed persons 2021* 10 15 0 0 40 45 0 0
Domestic N Renting and other business support 0 to 49 employed persons 2021* 10 10 0 0 35 35 0 0
Domestic N Renting and other business support 50 to 249 employed persons 2021* 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 0
Domestic N Renting and other business support 250 and more employed persons 2021* 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0
Domestic N Renting and other business support Employed persons unknown 2021* 0 0 0 0 5 5 0 0
Domestic 82 Other business services Total employed persons 2021* . . . . 0 0 0 0
Domestic 82 Other business services 0 to 49 employed persons 2021* . . . . 0 0 0 0
Domestic 82 Other business services 50 to 249 employed persons 2021* . . . . . . . .
Domestic 82 Other business services 250 and more employed persons 2021* . . . . . . . .
Domestic 82 Other business services Employed persons unknown 2021* . . . . . . . .
Foreign A-N Business economy and agriculture Total employed persons 2021* 115 495 15 95 85 185 5 5
Foreign A-N Business economy and agriculture 0 to 49 employed persons 2021* 20 35 5 5 20 25 0 0
Foreign A-N Business economy and agriculture 50 to 249 employed persons 2021* 40 155 5 40 35 65 0 0
Foreign A-N Business economy and agriculture 250 and more employed persons 2021* 55 305 10 50 30 95 0 0
Foreign A-N Business economy and agriculture Employed persons unknown 2021* . . . . . . . .
Foreign M-N Business services Total employed persons 2021* 15 115 5 75 5 10 0 0
Foreign M-N Business services 0 to 49 employed persons 2021* 5 15 0 0 5 5 0 0
Foreign M-N Business services 50 to 249 employed persons 2021* 5 60 0 35 0 5 0 0
Foreign M-N Business services 250 and more employed persons 2021* 0 40 0 35 0 0 0 0
Foreign M-N Business services Employed persons unknown 2021* . . . . . . . .
Foreign M Other specialised business services Total employed persons 2021* 10 75 5 45 5 10 0 0
Foreign M Other specialised business services 0 to 49 employed persons 2021* 5 10 0 0 5 5 0 0
Foreign M Other specialised business services 50 to 249 employed persons 2021* 5 20 0 5 0 5 0 0
Foreign M Other specialised business services 250 and more employed persons 2021* 0 40 0 35 0 0 0 0
Foreign M Other specialised business services Employed persons unknown 2021* . . . . . . . .
Foreign 74 Other specialised business services Total employed persons 2021* 0 0 0 0 . . . .
Foreign 74 Other specialised business services 0 to 49 employed persons 2021* 0 0 0 0 . . . .
Foreign 74 Other specialised business services 50 to 249 employed persons 2021* . . . . . . . .
Foreign 74 Other specialised business services 250 and more employed persons 2021* . . . . . . . .
Foreign 74 Other specialised business services Employed persons unknown 2021* . . . . . . . .
Foreign N Renting and other business support Total employed persons 2021* 0 40 0 30 0 0 0 0
Foreign N Renting and other business support 0 to 49 employed persons 2021* 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0
Foreign N Renting and other business support 50 to 249 employed persons 2021* 0 35 0 30 . . . .
Foreign N Renting and other business support 250 and more employed persons 2021* . . . . . . . .
Foreign N Renting and other business support Employed persons unknown 2021* . . . . . . . .
Foreign 82 Other business services Total employed persons 2021* . . . . . . . .
Foreign 82 Other business services 0 to 49 employed persons 2021* . . . . . . . .
Foreign 82 Other business services 50 to 249 employed persons 2021* . . . . . . . .
Foreign 82 Other business services 250 and more employed persons 2021* . . . . . . . .
Foreign 82 Other business services Employed persons unknown 2021* . . . . . . . .
Equally-shared control A-N Business economy and agriculture Total employed persons 2021* . . . . . . . .
Equally-shared control A-N Business economy and agriculture 0 to 49 employed persons 2021* . . . . . . . .
Equally-shared control A-N Business economy and agriculture 50 to 249 employed persons 2021* . . . . . . . .
Equally-shared control A-N Business economy and agriculture 250 and more employed persons 2021* . . . . . . . .
Equally-shared control A-N Business economy and agriculture Employed persons unknown 2021* . . . . . . . .
Equally-shared control M-N Business services Total employed persons 2021* . . . . . . . .
Equally-shared control M-N Business services 0 to 49 employed persons 2021* . . . . . . . .
Equally-shared control M-N Business services 50 to 249 employed persons 2021* . . . . . . . .
Equally-shared control M-N Business services 250 and more employed persons 2021* . . . . . . . .
Equally-shared control M-N Business services 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.