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IPC Subclass
C12R

INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES , RELATING TO MICROORGANISMS

Introduced: January 1980

Classification Context

Section:
CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
Class:
BIOCHEMISTRY; BEER; SPIRITS; WINE; VINEGAR; MICROBIOLOGY; ENZYMOLOGY; MUTATION OR GENETIC ENGINEERING
Subclass:
INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES , RELATING TO MICROORGANISMS

Description

C12R is an indexing scheme that organizes microorganisms used in biochemical, fermentation, and biotechnological processes according to their taxonomic or functional characteristics. This classification facilitates cross-referencing of patent documents across other C12 subclasses (such as fermentation, enzyme production, and genetic engineering) by identifying the specific microorganism or microbial type involved. It serves as a supplementary classification tool rather than a standalone subject matter classification, enabling systematic retrieval of patents involving particular microorganisms in beer production, vinegar manufacturing, wine fermentation, enzyme engineering, and mutation/genetic modification contexts.

Filing statistics

IPC subclass C12R recorded 119,798 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings grew from 6,688 in 2013 to 18,310 in 2023 (+174%). The most active applicants in class C12 are CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES (10,330 applications), HARVARD UNIVERSITY (7,308 applications) and UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA (6,383 applications).

Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings

1 direct subcode

Child Classifications

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Top Applicants

Top 10 applicants by patent filingsfor class C12, 2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT

  1. CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 10,330
  2. HARVARD UNIVERSITY US 7,308
  3. UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA US 6,383
  4. JIANGNAN UNIVERSITY 5,144
  5. MONSANTO TECHNOLOGY US 4,121
  6. PIONEER HI-BRED INTERNATIONAL US 3,630
  7. REGENERON PHARMACEUTICALS US 3,515
  8. CNRS (CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE) FR 3,499
  9. INSERM (INSTITUT NATIONAL DE LA SANTE ET DE LA RECHERCHE MEDICALE) FR 3,371
  10. CJ CHEILJEDANG CORPORATION KR 3,361