Study reveals strengths and gaps in Europe’s technology transfer

On 22 October, the European Patent Office (EPO) Observatory in collaboration with ASTP and Fraunhofer ISI released a new study on Europe's tech transfer challenge. The assessment of 809 European TTOs reveals substantial differences in capacity. Around 90% are small or mid-scale. Large offices have, on average, six times more staff and receive almost 16 times more invention disclosures than their smaller counterparts. They also handle more activity per staff member, reflecting specialist expertise, established processes and stronger commercial networks.

The findings point to opportunities for smaller offices to access shared expertise, training, technology intelligence and investor networks at regional, national or European level, while maintaining close local relationships with researchers.

Europe has also largely caught up with the US in academic patenting. Patents linked to university research increased from around 5% of all European patents in 2000 to 9% in 2020. Direct university filings accounted for around 53% of European academic patents in 2020, more than double their earlier share.

Maintaining protection remains a challenge: 40.7% of directly owned European academic patents lapse within ten years, compared with 26.3% of US university patents.

Research institutions’ growing role in strategic technologies underlines the importance of TTOs. In 2025, they accounted for 34% of European-origin patent applications in biotechnology, 29% in quantum technologies and 26% in pharmaceuticals.

For more information:

From public research to market success: Europe’s tech transfer challenge