SMEs represent a prime target for public authority awareness-raising policies especially as regards innovation and filing patents. Yet it is not always easy to get a handle on this population in terms of statistics, meaning that it is particularly difficult to systematically identify in the patent databases those SMEs that do file patent applications. Two census of SMEs conducted in 1999 and 2007, organised jointly by Bpifrance and INPI, allow the INPI to yearly identify SMEs among the companies that filed a patent application at the French patent office. This study reveals the importance of SMEs among the total patent applicant population. They show that in France, in 2014, SMEs represented 67% of the French corporate bodies that filed patent applications, but only accounted for 23% of the patent applications published in 2014. This share of SMEs and large companies in the patent applications of French corporate bodies are stable since 2011. The figures highlight the fact that in 2014, on average, an SME filed 1.4 patents, compared to 15.2 for a large company (more than 5,000 employees). We observe regional disparities: regions such as Alsace, Languedoc-Roussillon, Pays de la Loire and Poitou-Charentes are characterised by the highest share of patent application from SMEs. And SMEs are more specialised in medical technologies.

1. Small and medium
enterprises as
patent applicants
in France in 2014
Emmanuelle Fortune
18th April 2016

2. 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. 3 /
Background of the study
Census of
French patent
applicants
conducted in
1999 and 2007
Yearly
identification of
applicants at
INPI
organised
jointly by
Bpifrance
and INPI
II-SDV, April 18, 2016

4. 4 /
Firms definition used: European definition
II-SDV, April 20, 2015
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 companies
250 < workforce < 5000
50 million € < sales < 1.5 billion €
►Large companies
workforce > 5000 sales > 1.5 billion €

5. 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. 6 /
Methodology of the study
II-SDV, April 20, 2015
►Data bases used
• French patent database
• Astree database (Van Dijk Bureau)
►Using 2 identification numbers
• INPI identification number
• firm’s national number (SIREN)

7. 7 /
►Indicators calculated as the count of patent
applications published in 2014
►Dimensions studied
• Applicant type
• Inventor’s localization
• Technological domains
II-SDV, April 18, 2016
Methodology of the study

8. 8 /
How many patent applications published?
II-SDV, April 18, 2016
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%
SMEs
Intermediate-sized companies
Large companies
Research 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
Large
companies
Research
organizations
and public
firms

9. 9 /
Trend between 2011 and 2014
II-SDV, April 18, 2016
% 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. 10 /
Which type of firm is the biggest patentee in 2014?
II-SDV, April 18, 2016
Average number of patent applications published at INPI in 2014
Source : INPI 2015
1,4
2,4
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
Large
companies
Research
organizations
and public firms

11. 11 /
How many firms?
II-SDV, April 18, 2016
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-sized
companies
Large companies Research organizations and
public firms
66,9%
10,5%
15,4%
7,2%SMEs
Intermediate-
sized companies
Large companies
Research
organizations
and public firms

12. 12 / II-SDV, April 18, 2016
% 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 and
public firms
Large companies
Intermediate-sized companies
SMEs

13. 13 / II-SDV, April 18, 2016
% 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

14. 14 / II-SDV, April 18, 2016
0,0
0,5
1,0
1,5
2,0
2,5
Electrical
engineering
Instruments
Chemistry
Mechanical
engineering
Other fields
SMEs Intermediate-sized companies
Source: INPI 2015
SMEs and Intermediate-sized technological specialization

15. 15 / II-SDV, April 18, 2016
0,0
0,5
1,0
1,5
2,0
2,5
3,0
Electrical machinery,
energy
Audio-visual technology
Telecommunications
Digital communication
Basic communication
Computer technology
IT methods for
management
Semiconductors
Optics
Measurement
Analysis of biological
materials
Control
Medical technology
Organic chemistry
Biotechnology
Pharmaceuticals
Polymer chemistry
Food 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 and
apparatus
Mechanical elements
Transport
Furniture, games
Other consumer goods
Civil engineering
SMEs Intermediate-sized companies
Source: INPI 2015
SMEs and Intermediate-sized technological specialization

16. 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
II-SDV, April 18, 2016
Conclusion

17. 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