Research institutions in collaboration

The dashboard captures the contribution of universities, public research organisations (PROs) and research hospitals to the development of inventions, both in terms of their European patent applications and the scope of their collaborative networks. Filings can be viewed according to region / country or by individual research institution, with a breakdown per top technology field available in both cases.

For European patent applications filed at the EPO each year, beginning with 2025, the dashboard counts every application in which an institution is listed, whether as sole applicant or co-applicant. This distinguishes the dashboard from rankings that credit only the first-named applicant and ensures that institutions’ actual contribution is fully represented. The added value is significant: in 2025, 96% of enterprises’ applications are filed by a sole applicant, whereas 38% of research institutions’ applications involve collaboration with co-applicants.

The Observatory on Patents and Technology provides in-depth studies about the role European universities, public research institutions and technology transfer offices in patenting and innovation, as well as a tool facilitating their identification for investors.