Patent statistics at Eurostat : methods for regionalisation, sector allocation and name harmonisation

Over the last decade, Eurostat regularly increased and improved the dissemination of patent data with the production of new indicators on economic activities, basing its current production almost exclusively on the Worldwide Statistical Patent Database PATSTAT, developed by the European Patent Office (EPO). The core of the work is linked to the European Research Area (ERA), and to the priorities of the Europe 2020 strategy. There is therefore a need to enhance the information available in patent databases. In that context Eurostat developed and implemented several innovative methodologies to be applied on PATSTAT data. They relate to regionalisation of patentee and inventors addresses (according to the NUTS classification), as well as sector allocation and name harmonisation of applicants. Specifics on the developed methodologies and their results in terms of coverage and accuracy are compiled in the present publication "PATENT STATISTICS AT EUROSTAT: Methods for Regionalisation, Sector Allocation and Name Harmonisation".