Future patent filings

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Future patent filings survey 2009

The EPO surveys a sample of its applicants annually to obtain information on the numbers of patent applications they envisage filing in the future. This year the survey field investigation takes place from May to September 2009. Synovate GmbH is in charge of the administration of the survey which, nevertheless, remains under the supervision of the Office.

In case you are approached by Synovate GmbH with a request to participate in the survey, it will be greatly appreciated if you can please agree to do so. The documents that will be provided to you are accompanied by an invitation letter from EPO president Alison Brimelow. Your filled-in questionnaire can be sent to us by facsimile (fax) to the number 0049 89 2399 1333. If on the other hand you prefer not to disclose your answers directly to the EPO, please inform Synovate in their next call. It should be stressed that the information you provide will be treated as confidential and for research purposes only.

This notice confirms the legitimacy of the survey. For further confirmation from the Office itself please write to Mr. George Lazaridis. The report of the survey will be published at this site in early 2010. Earlier survey reports are available below.

Objectives

The EPO carries out this applicant panel survey in order to

• estimate how many filings might be expected at the EPO and other patent offices over the next three years
• forecast the budget and manpower resources required to cope with the estimated number of filings
• understand the processes that lead to an application being filed
• collect information about economic trends

Methodology

Applicants are surveyed with the main objective to predict the numbers of patent filings for the current year and for the two following years. The EPO uses the predictions as one of the ways of allocating resources in order to ensure a high service level when processing future patent filings.

Generally, applicants are selected in two groups: a Biggest group (around 400) and a Random group (around 2000). Many of the biggest applicants appear in both groups. Questionnaires are usually sent out from the end of May in each year, with interviews being completed by mid-September. The questionnaire contains a matrix of questions on patent filings broken down by first and subsequent filings, not only at the EPO but also in other main worldwide patent systems. Forecasts are constructed from the Biggest group by aggregating the predicted filings and then dividing by the number of known filings from the same applicants in the previous year to the survey year (base year). From random group respondents, individual growth indices are calculated and a weighted average growth index is produced with weights that reflect the numbers of filings previously made by the respondents and their probability of inclusion in the sample. The responses to questions on economic items such as R&D expenditures are also analysed using weights.

Frequency

Once a year

Survey results 

The following main document for each year gives the results of a survey carried out by the EPO on a sample of applicants. 

Latest: 2008 

Applicant Panel Survey 2008 (Main report)
Anmelderumfrage 2008 (Zusammenfassung)
Panel de demandeurs 2008 (Résumé)  

2007

Applicant Panel Survey 2007 (Main report)
Anmelderumfrage 2007 (Zusammenfassung)
Panel de demandeurs 2007 (Résumé)  

2006

Applicant Panel Survey 2006 (Main report)
Anmelderumfrage 2006 (Zusammenfassung)
Panel de demandeurs 2006 (Résumé)

2005

Applicant Panel Survey 2005 (Main report)
Anmelderumfrage 2005 (Zusammenfassung)
Panel de demandeurs 2005 (Résumé)

2004

Applicant Panel Survey 2004 (Main report)
Anmelderumfrage 2004 (Zusammenfassung)
Panel de demandeurs 2004 (Résumé)

2003

Applicant Panel Survey 2003 (Main report)
Anmelderumfrage 2003 (Zusammenfassung)
Panel de demandeurs 2003 (Résumé)

2002

Applicant Panel Survey 2002 (Main report)
Anmelderumfrage 2002 (Zusammenfassung)
Panel de demandeurs 2002 (Résumé)

2001

Applicant Panel Survey 2001 (Main report)
Anmelderumfrage 2001 (Zusammenfassung)
Panel de demandeurs 2001 (Résumé)

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