Small and medium enterprises as patent applicants in France in 2014Emmanuelle Fortune

18th April 2016

2 /

Why this study

2 objectives

Identification of French

applicants in the patent database

Analysis of patent behavior of French SMEs

►Few surveys about the patent behavior of Small

and medium enterprises (SMEs)

►No exhaustive data about patent from SMEs

II-SDV, April 18, 2016

3 /

Background of the study

Census of French patent

applicants conducted in

1999 and 2007

Yearlyidentification of

applicants at INPI

organised

jointly by

Bpifrance

and INPI

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4 /

Firms definition used: European definition

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European council Regulation n°696/93 of 15 March 1993

French application law n°2008-1354 of 18 December 2008

►Small and medium enterprises

(SMEs)

workforce <250 sales < 50 million €

► Intermediate-sized companies250 < workforce < 5000

50 million € < sales < 1.5 billion €

►Large companies workforce > 5000 sales > 1.5 billion €

5 /

Methodology of the study

II-SDV, April 20, 2015

►Identification of applicants in the patent

database

►Foreign corporate bodies

►French corporate bodies

• Research organizations and public firms

• Small and medium enterprises (SMEs)

• Intermediate-sized companies

• Large companies

Focus

of this

study

6 /

Methodology of the study

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►Data bases used

• French patent database

• Astree database (Van Dijk Bureau)

►Using 2 identification numbers

• INPI identification number

• firm’s national number (SIREN)

7 /

►Indicators calculated as the count of patent

applications published in 2014

►Dimensions studied

• Applicant type

• Inventor’s localization

• Technological domains

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Methodology of the study

8 /

How many patent applications published?

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Number of patent applications published in

2014 at INPI

% of the applications

filed by French

corporate bodies

Source : INPI 2015

22,6%

6,1%

57,0%

14,2%

SMEsIntermediate-sized companiesLarge companiesResearch organizations and public firms

2 578

693

6 494

1 619

0

1 000

2 000

3 000

4 000

5 000

6 000

7 000

SMEs Intermediate-sized

companies

Largecompanies

Researchorganizations

and publicfirms

9 /

Trend between 2011 and 2014

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% of the applications filed by French corporate bodies

Source : INPI 2015

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

2011 2012 2013 2014

Publication year

Large companies

SMEs

Intermediate-sized companies

Research organizations and public firms

10 /

Which type of firm is the biggest patentee in 2014?

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Average number of patent applications published at INPI in 2014

Source : INPI 2015

1,42,4

15,2

8,1

0,0

2,0

4,0

6,0

8,0

10,0

12,0

14,0

16,0

SMEs Intermediate-sized

companies

Largecompanies

Researchorganizations

and public firms

11 /

How many firms?

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Number of patent applicants in 2014 at INPI

% of applicants by French

corporate bodies

Source : INPI 2015

1 855

290

428

201

0

200

400

600

800

1 000

1 200

1 400

1 600

1 800

2 000

SMEs Intermediate-sizedcompanies

Large companies Research organizations andpublic firms

66,9%10,5%

15,4%

7,2%SMEs

Intermediate-sized companies

Large companies

Researchorganizationsand public firms

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% of international extension of patent applications

Source : INPI 2015

Firms at the international level

62,1%

80,8%

61,6%

68,4%

49,9%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

French corporate bodies (total)

Research organizations andpublic firms

Large companies

Intermediate-sized companies

SMEs

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% of patent applications from SMEs or

intermediate-sized companies

Alsace

Pays de la Loire

Poitou-Charentes

Languedoc-

Roussillon

Source : INPI 2015

SMEs and Intermediate-sized at regional level

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0,0

0,5

1,0

1,5

2,0

2,5

Electricalengineering

Instruments

ChemistryMechanicalengineering

Other fields

SMEs Intermediate-sized companies

Source: INPI 2015

SMEs and Intermediate-sized technological specialization

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0,0

0,5

1,0

1,5

2,0

2,5

3,0

Electrical machinery,energy

Audio-visual technologyTelecommunications

Digital communication

Basic communication

Computer technology

IT methods formanagement

Semiconductors

Optics

Measurement

Analysis of biologicalmaterials

Control

Medical technology

Organic chemistry

Biotechnology

Pharmaceuticals

Polymer chemistryFood chemistryBasic chemistry

Metallurgy

Surface technology

Micro and nano-technology

Chemical engineering

Environmental technology

Handling

Machine tools

Engines, pumps, turbines

Textile and paper machines

Other special machines

Thermal processes andapparatus

Mechanical elements

Transport

Furniture, games

Other consumer goodsCivil engineering

SMEs Intermediate-sized companies

Source: INPI 2015

SMEs and Intermediate-sized technological specialization

16 /

►Applicant identification for studies in the

patent database

►This study shows us how highly SMEs are

involved in innovating process

►This work is helpful to define the INPI policy

to develop IP in SMEs• Reduction of patent fee for SMEs

• IP audit for SMEs

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Conclusion

17 /

Further information on INPI work on

patents:

https://www.inpi.fr/fr/services-et-

prestations/etudes-0

efortune@inpi.fr

Thank you!

II-SDV, April 20, 2015