Patent application is an indicator of inventive activity and the analysis of regional patenting helps assess the spatial distribution of innovation. Patents are one of the mechanisms used to appropriate the results of investments in intangibles. They are a good proxy of innovation efforts; however, patenting activity is strongly associated with sectoral patterns, since some economic sectors (i.e. pharmaceuticals and electronics) tend to show higher patenting trends due to the type of innovative activity than other sectors (i.e. textiles or other low-tech sectors).