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2025
Report
Title
The role of European public research in patenting and innovation
Title Supplement
An in-depth analysis of the patenting activities of European public research organisations and research hospitals at the EPO; October 2025
Abstract
The latest study from the European Patent Office (EPO) Observatory on Patents and Technology shows that patent applications from public research organisations almost doubled over the two decades from 2001 to 2020.
European public research organisations (PROs) generated almost 63 000 European patent applications between 2001 and 2020. Annual European patent applications linked to PROs increased from around 2 000 at the beginning of the period to more than 3 500 by 2020. The study also highlights a concentrated yet diverse landscape: some organisations and countries are especially active in using the European patent system, while approaches to technology transfer and collaboration differ widely.
European public research organisations (PROs) generated almost 63 000 European patent applications between 2001 and 2020. Annual European patent applications linked to PROs increased from around 2 000 at the beginning of the period to more than 3 500 by 2020. The study also highlights a concentrated yet diverse landscape: some organisations and countries are especially active in using the European patent system, while approaches to technology transfer and collaboration differ widely.
Author(s)
