Innovation Figure 3: Patent applications granted by region
450 400 350 300 250
2007
200
2008
150 100 50
So ut h
Ea st Ea L on st d of En on So gla nd ut h W No e W rth st es W t M es t id l Yo an d s rk sh ir e * Ea Sco * t st la n M id d la nd s W al N No o rt e s rth h E as er n Ire t la nd
0
Source: Intellectual Property Office
3.25 The high number of patent applications granted in London and the South East may be influenced by concentration of world renowned universities and scientific institutes in the South East who undertake collaborative research projects with global businesses such as Nokia, QinetiQ and Microsoft. Additionally, it should be considered that many companies choose to have their headquarters in London and the South East, although the actual research & development activities may be carried out elsewhere. Because patents are registered at the head office location, this would mean that regions with a relatively high number of R&D locations but a low number of head offices may show a disproportionately low number of patent applications relative to the size of their R&D function and workforce employed in a region. 3.26 Over the last few years the number of patent applications filed and granted has declined across many regions. At the national level the number of patent applications filed has fallen from 20,196 in 2002 to 16,523 in 2008. The Northwest figure has fallen by a similar proportion, from 1,735 to 1,447 over the same period. The number of patent applications granted has fallen too, though not quite as sharply.
Regional Intelligence Unit 11