Analysts and policy makers have made increasing use of patent indicators to analyse the rate and direction of technological activity. The Patents Manual, issued in 1994, provides information on how patent data can be used as indicators, and also shows how these can be linked to other statistics on science, technology and economic activity (R&D, scientific publications, trade, production, etc.).
The Measurement of Scientific and Technological Activities Using Patent Data as Science and Technology Indicators
Patent Manual
