Innovation in immunology, patents via the Patent Cooperation Treaty

Innovation and technological change have become basic considerations in economic analyses and political decision-making, making the study and measurement of related indicators essential. One indicator of innovation is the submission of patent applications, but these studies are usually general and therefore encompass large scientific sectors. There are no published studies in books or scientific journals that focus their patent analysis on specific areas of knowledge. The present book builds on a research thesis describing the landscape for inventions in 96 other countries that requested patents in immunology via the Patent Cooperation Treaty from 2004-2015. We evaluate the following parameters: number of patents in immunology, nationality and typology of researchers and/or applicants, sections, classes, subclasses and groups of each patent, their technological fields, the applicant organisation, the level of internationalisation and the economic sectors involved. We also analyse the correlation between patent applications and other indicators: population; gross national income; investments in research, development and innovation; and the World Economic Forum competitiveness index.