Future patent filings

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Applicant Panel Survey 2008

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 2008. 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. It should be stressed that the information you provide will be treated as confidential and for research purposes only.

This notice provides confirmation regarding the legitimacy of this survey. For further confirmation from the Office itself please contact Mr. George Lazaridis (e-mail: glazaridis@epo.org). The report of the survey will be published at this site in early 2009. 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.

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Future patent filings

Applicant Panel Survey 2008

Objectives

Methodology

Frequency

Survey results

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