Biotechnology in Europe - Patents and R&D investments - Issue number 100/2007 - Products Statistics in Focus

Defining and measuring biotechnology is a challenge for statisticians. There is no single sector of biotechnology which can be easily and clearly distinguished from other technology sectors. The current publication illustrates different aspects of biotechnology with the help of different kinds of data such as patent applications, R&D intensity and R&D investment. In 2003 Denmark was world leader in biotechnology patent applications to the EPO per million inhabitants, whereas in Europe Germany ranked first in absolute figures. The United Kingdom was the most active European country in biotechnology R&D investment. This publication sheds light on both the statistical and the legal sides of biotechnology.