1.1. Contact organisation
Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union
1.2. Contact organisation unit
E2: Environmental statistics and accounts; sustainable development
1.3. Contact name
Confidential because of GDPR
1.4. Contact person function
Confidential because of GDPR
1.5. Contact mail address
e-mail contact: ESTAT-SDG-MONITORING@ec.europa.eu
1.6. Contact email address
Confidential because of GDPR
1.7. Contact phone number
Confidential because of GDPR
1.8. Contact fax number
Confidential because of GDPR
2.1. Metadata last certified
25 April 20252.2. Metadata last posted
23 May 20252.3. Metadata last update
23 May 2025The indicator is part of the indicator sets EU Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) indicator set. It is used to monitor progress towards SDG 9 on building resilient infrastructure, promoting inclusive and sustainable industrialisation and fostering innovation which is embedded in the European Commission’s 2024-2029 Priorities under 'A new era for European defence and security'.
SDG 9 calls for building resilient and sustainable infrastructure and promotes inclusive and sustainable industrialisation. It also recognises the importance of research and innovation for finding lasting solutions to social, economic and environmental challenges.
New technologies, sustainable solutions and disruptive innovation are critical to achieve the objectives of the European Green Deal.
Patents reflect a country's inventive activity. Patents also show the capacity of countries and their businesses to exploit knowledge and research results, and translate it into potential economic gains. In this context, indicators based on patent statistics provide a valuable measure of the inventive performance of countries.
4.1. Data description
This indicator measures requests for the protection of an invention filed with the European Patent Office (EPO) regardless of whether they are granted or not. Applications are allocated according to the country of residence of the first applicant listed on the application form (first-named applicant principle) as well as according to the country of residence of the inventor.
The data show the total number of applications per country and per million inhabitants (using the average population of the reference year as denominator).
4.2. Unit of measure
Total number and number per million inhabitants.
4.3. Reference Period
Calendar year.
4.4. Accuracy - overall
The indicator is produced according to high-level quality standards. Details on accuracy can be found in the metadata of the source dataset.
4.5. Source data
4.5.1. Source data - Organisation
European Patent Office (EPO)
4.5.2. Source data - Comment
Data source: European Patents Office (EPO)
Data provider: Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union.
5.1. Frequency of dissemination
5.1.1. Frequency of dissemination - Grade
Every year5.1.2. Frequency of dissemination - Comment
Indicator is updated annually
5.2. Timeliness
5.2.1. Timeliness - Grade
T+1 year5.2.2. Timeliness - Comment
New data points are disseminated within six months after the reference year.
6.1. Reference area
6.1.1. Reference Area - Grade
All EU MS6.1.2. Reference Area - Comment
Data are presented for all EU Member States plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania, Serbia and Türkiye.
6.2. Comparability - geographical
6.2.1. Comparability - geographical - Grade
All EU MS6.2.2. Comparability - geographical - Comment
Data are comparable between all EU Member States and the other presented countries.
6.3. Coverage - Time
6.3.1. Time Coverage - Grade
> 10 years6.3.2. Time Coverage - Comment
Presented time series (including EU aggregates) starts in 2004.
6.4. Comparability - over time
6.4.1. Comparability - over time - Grade
> 4 data points6.4.2. Comparability - over time - Comment
Length of comparable time series without methodological breaks is longer than 4 data points.
7.1. Dissemination format - Publications
The analysis of indicator is presented in Eurostat's annual monitoring report on Sustainable development in the EU (progress towards SDGs in an EU context).
7.2. Dissemination format - online database
See table sdg_09_40
7.3. Dissemination format - other
Eurostat dedicated section on SDGs: overview.
Copyrights: Eurostat Copyright/Licence Policy is applicable.
