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Reference metadata describe statistical concepts and methodologies used for the collection and generation of data. They provide information on data quality and, since they are strongly content-oriented, assist users in interpreting the data. Reference metadata, unlike structural metadata, can be decoupled from the data.

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Patent applications to the European Patent Office by applicants' / inventors' country of residence (sdg_09_40)

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Reference Metadata in Euro SDMX Metadata Structure (ESMS)

Compiling agency: Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union

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Eurostat Quality Profile

Quality concept Rating
Source data

European Patent Office (EPO)

Frequency of dissemination Every year
Timeliness T+1 year
Reference area All EU MS
Comparability - geographical All EU MS
Coverage - Time > 10 years
Comparability - over time > 4 data points

 
Short metadata
Full metadata
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 2025
2.2. Metadata last posted
23 May 2025
2.3. Metadata last update
23 May 2025

The 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 year
5.1.2. Frequency of dissemination - Comment

Indicator is updated annually

5.2. Timeliness
5.2.1. Timeliness - Grade
T+1 year
5.2.2. 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 MS
6.1.2. 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 MS
6.2.2. 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 years
6.3.2. 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 points
6.4.2. 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.

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