The OECD REGPAT Database

The OECD REGPAT database presents patent data that have been linked to regions according to theaddresses of the applicants and inventors. The data have been 'regionalised' at a very detailed level so thatmore than 2 000 regions are covered across OECD countries. REGPAT allows patent data to be used inconnection with other regional data such as GDP or labour force statistics, and other patent-basedinformation 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 broadrange of analyses to address issues relating to the regional dimension of innovation. By makingregionalised patent data available to all students interested in the field, the OECD aims to stimulateresearch and contribute to a better understanding of the regional dimension of innovation. In addition, themethodology used for the construction of REGPAT is published, to give users the opportunity to suggestmodifications and thus contribute to improvements in the quality of REGPAT. The full technicaldescription of the REGPAT database as accessible to users is provided in annex. Patent data provideunique 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.

OECD Science, Technology and Industry Working Papers

The OECD REGPAT Database

A Presentation