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Patents were filed in all subsectors of Blue Biotechnology, with a strong focus to health topics covering 56% of all patents (Figure 3.7). As most of the patents deal with compounds or genes with more than one application field rather than with specific production processes, many patents belong to more than one sector. For instance, patents on “natural products” belong in average to three of the subsectors. In some cases patents on genetic material and tools for molecular research and development could not been affiliated to a specific subsector at all, in such case they have been assorted separately. Figure 3.7 Patents distribution across Blue Biotechnology sub-sectors Most patents belong to the medical or veterinary science and hygiene class (International Patent Class, IPC A61). In total only 10 patent classes could be identified with a focus on high value products. This may provide an indication of which sectors are expected to be financially most interesting in the near future as the patent filers have seen them worthwhile to go through the effort and cost of patenting. The detailed analysis of all sectors revealed that the main players in patenting in marine biotechnology in Europe are the two companies Henkel (both in cosmetics and health), Germany, and Pharmamar, Spain (Top2 in Health). The chemical industry company Henkel holds many patents in its portfolio concerning hair care with marine collagen; Pharmamar is a leading pharmaceutical company exclusively working with marine organisms. BASF, which was formerly identified as one of the main players, does not play a very prominent role anymore82. In the energy sector the leading company in patenting is Shell. However, the field of bioenergy is in nonEuropean hands. There are only some minor inventors from European countries, which patent together with big companies in the US or Asia. In general, companies are the main patent filers, research institutions and universities together represent less than 20% of the total number of patents, indicating a lack in knowledge transfer or alternative valorisation strategies of academic stakeholders. The recently published knowledge transfer report83 summarised the strong bottlenecks for patenting for academics: costs, knowledge on patenting strategies, to early patenting but as well a lack of interest. For the research 82 which is outlined by Arnaud-Haond S, Arrieta J (M, Duarte CM (2011) Marine Biodiversity and Gene Patents. Science 331: 1521-1522; see also presentation Concarneau, 20012): 54 out of 149 German patents in the MBT sectors are from BASF. 83 DG RTD (2013): Knowledge Transfer Study 2010 – 2012, http://www.knowledge-transfer-study.eu Study in support of Impact Assessment work on Blue Biotechnology 49

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