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Figure 0.16 Protection level and patent area When comparing the number (in total or percentage) of patents in the different topics it is obvious that all patents dealing with genetics and biocides are more internationally patented than the other sub-sectors. Main international patent classes All patents were evaluated with respect to the main international patent classes showing the nature of the invention and giving deeper insights in the specific application. Patents belonging to medical or veterinary science and hygiene (IPC A61) were most dominant in marine biotechnology patents. In this class the 7 subgroups A61K31, A61K8, A61Q19, A61Q5, A61K38, A61K35 and A61K9 are under the top 10. Only in the sub-sector “energy” and in the field “genetics”, the application of biochemistry, microbiology and enzymology were the main patented inventions (IPC C12). In total only 10 patent classes could be identified covering mainly chemical methods and products, processing of food and foodstuff as well as physical processes or apparatus in general. For the genetic patents, most patents relate to molecular tools needed to analyse and manipulate genetic material. 114 Study in support of Impact Assessment work on Blue Biotechnology

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