Distributions of structures and activities of applicants at the European Patent Office

The distributions of attributes among applicants at the European Patent Office (EPO) in 2009 are studied using responses from a random sample in a survey that was made in 2010. A series of questions were asked on applicants’ R&D investment behaviour and numbers of worldwide first filings broken down by technical areas. Other factors were measured, including numbers of distinct inventions, the percentage of these that lead to patent applications and numbers of inventive staff.The results are weighted to infer the probability distributions of the attributes and two ratios of attributes. Two alternative weighting schemes are compared. A typical distribution for a variable that is correlated to applicant size (such as R&D expenditure) is extremely asymmetric. Frequency charts estimate the overall distributions across the EPO applicant population and are summarised by using means, medians and maxima. Breakdown analyses with representations on the frequency charts and statistical tables are made by four blocs of residence of the applicants and five industries.Conclusions are drawn about some of the characteristics of the EPO applicant population. Policy implications are mentioned and also how to move on to more extensive studies of this type, particularly to gain a better understanding of the asymmetric distribution of many attributes and their relationships to patenting. A crude estimate is made of 1 670 000 inventions worldwide that could have led to first filings in 2008.

► We show weighted frequency distributions of patentee characteristics from a survey.
► Size variables (e.g. R&D expenditures, patent filings) have asymmetric distributions.
► Differences exist in medians and means for countries and industries of the patentees.
► For ratios, R&D per first filing is asymmetric while filings per invention is not.
► Policy makers must take care with statistics of size variables due to the asymmetry.