OECD Science, Technology and Industry Working Papers
The OECD Directorate for Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) leads OECD research on the contribution of science, technology and industry to well-being and economic growth. STI Working Papers cover a broad range of topics including definition and measurement of science and technology indicators, global value chains, and research on policies to promote innovation. These technical or analytical working papers are prepared by staff or outside consultants to share early insights and elicit feedback.
- ISSN: 18151965 (online)
- https://doi.org/10.1787/18151965
The OECD REGPAT Database
A Presentation
The OECD REGPAT database presents patent data that have been linked to regions according to the
addresses of the applicants and inventors. The data have been 'regionalised' at a very detailed level so that
more than 2 000 regions are covered across OECD countries. REGPAT allows patent data to be used in
connection with other regional data such as GDP or labour force statistics, and other patent-based
information such as citations, technical fields and patent holder's characteristics (industry, university, etc.),
thus providing researchers with the means to develop a rich set of new indicators and undertake a broad
range of analyses to address issues relating to the regional dimension of innovation. By making
regionalised patent data available to all students interested in the field, the OECD aims to stimulate
research and contribute to a better understanding of the regional dimension of innovation. In addition, the
methodology used for the construction of REGPAT is published, to give users the opportunity to suggest
modifications and thus contribute to improvements in the quality of REGPAT. The full technical
description of the REGPAT database as accessible to users is provided in annex. Patent data provide
unique insights into the outcome and characteristics of inventive activities, including at regional level.
They have limitations however, like all data sources, and should be handled with methodological care.
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