Why we suck at filing patents

Here are a few comparative figures from the European Patents Office for 2007, for countries with broadly comparable populations to Ireland (Holland and Sweden excepted):

                  Applications         Per million people
Ireland              415                          96
Denmark         1408                        259
Belgium          1900                        180
Finland            2045                        388
Holland            6999                        428
Sweden           2733                        299
Austria            1379                        166

We're not within an ass's roar.

Now here are some R&D funding numbers for Ireland:

-- €2.5 billion spent from all sectors in 2007 (source: Forfas annual report)
-- €8.2 billion committed by government in National Development Plan (2006-2013)
-- €365 million to 570 university projects last year from Science Foundation Ireland (SFI)

Is patents a fair way of reflecting progress in research? If it is, we're in the doldrums.

Comments

[Orlaith]

I think the issue that demands closer attention is the growth in the number of patents that are being filed internationally and how this directly impinges and hinders innovation, particularly in the area of software design. Richard Stallman, the founder of the free software foundation delivered a fascinating lecture in TCD a few years ago on this subject, it was around the time the EU were debating on whether or not they should allow patents covering software. There is a valid issue concerning the fact that the big guns have a clear advantage in this arena and often just the threat of being sued stifles any sort of innovation - not to mention the fact that many of the patents and copyrights that are filed are often spurious. Who has the money to challenge them?

[Mike]

If you look at the Finnish & Swedish patents you will find that Nokia & Ericsson are a major part of these numbers. The phone industry is very much R&D driven and these 2 companies are at the forefront in that regard.

[adrian]

That's true Mike, fair point.

But even still, those are two home-grown techno-innovative enterprises. Where are ours?

[Teknovis]

"Is patents a fair way of reflecting progress in research?" Short answer - I think it is just a single metric that does not necessarily have any meaning on its own.