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
In class comparison
C12R ranks 5th of 12 subclasses with filings in C12, with 119,798 applications between 2013 and 2023, 8.3% of the class. Annual filings grew 174% from 2013 to 2023, above the class as a whole (+59%).
| Rank | Subclass | Title | Applications | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | C12N, Microorganisms or Enzymes; Compositions Thereof; Propagating, Preserving, or Maintaining Microorganisms; Mutation or Genetic Engineering; Culture Media | Microorganisms or Enzymes; Compositions Thereof; Propagating, Preserving, or Maintaining Microorganisms; Mutation or Genetic Engineering; Culture Media | 650,624 | 45.3% |
| 2 | C12Q, Measuring or Testing Processes Involving Enzymes, Nucleic Acids or Microorganisms; Compositions or Test Papers Therefor; Processes of Preparing Such Compositions; Condition-Responsive Control in Microbiological or Enzymological Processes | Measuring or Testing Processes Involving Enzymes, Nucleic Acids or Microorganisms; Compositions or Test Papers Therefor; Processes of Preparing Such Compositions; Condition-Responsive Control in Microbiological or Enzymological Processes | 266,123 | 18.5% |
| 3 | C12M, Apparatus for Enzymology or Microbiology | Apparatus for Enzymology or Microbiology | 171,419 | 11.9% |
| 4 | C12P, Fermentation or Enzyme-Using Processes to Synthesise a Desired Chemical Compound or Composition or to Separate Optical Isomers From a Racemic Mixture | Fermentation or Enzyme-Using Processes to Synthesise a Desired Chemical Compound or Composition or to Separate Optical Isomers From a Racemic Mixture | 146,875 | 10.2% |
| 5 | C12R | Indexing Scheme Associated With Subclasses , Relating to Microorganisms | 119,798 | 8.3% |
| 6 | C12G, Wine; Preparation Thereof; Alcoholic Beverages; Preparation of Alcoholic Beverages Not Provided for in Subclasses or | Wine; Preparation Thereof; Alcoholic Beverages; Preparation of Alcoholic Beverages Not Provided for in Subclasses or | 46,945 | 3.3% |
| 7 | C12H, Pasteurisation, Sterilisation, Preservation, Purification, Clarification or Ageing of Alcoholic Beverages; Methods for Altering the Alcohol Content of Fermented Solutions or Alcoholic Beverages | Pasteurisation, Sterilisation, Preservation, Purification, Clarification or Ageing of Alcoholic Beverages; Methods for Altering the Alcohol Content of Fermented Solutions or Alcoholic Beverages | 14,580 | 1.0% |
| 8 | C12C, Beer; Preparation of Beer by Fermentation; Preparation of Malt for Making Beer; Preparation of Hops for Making Beer | Beer; Preparation of Beer by Fermentation; Preparation of Malt for Making Beer; Preparation of Hops for Making Beer | 10,159 | 0.7% |
| 9 | C12J, Vinegar; Preparation or Purification Thereof | Vinegar; Preparation or Purification Thereof | 7,047 | 0.5% |
| 10 | C12F, Recovery of By-Products of Fermented Solutions; Denatured Alcohol; Preparation Thereof | Recovery of By-Products of Fermented Solutions; Denatured Alcohol; Preparation Thereof | 873 | 0.1% |
Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings
1 direct subcode
Child Classifications
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- C12R 1/00 Microorganisms
Top Applicants
Top 10 applicants by patent filingsfor class C12, 2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT
- CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 10,330
- HARVARD UNIVERSITY US 7,308
- UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA US 6,383
- JIANGNAN UNIVERSITY 5,144
- MONSANTO TECHNOLOGY US 4,121
- PIONEER HI-BRED INTERNATIONAL US 3,630
- REGENERON PHARMACEUTICALS US 3,515
- CNRS (CENTRE NATIONAL DE LA RECHERCHE SCIENTIFIQUE) FR 3,499
- INSERM (INSTITUT NATIONAL DE LA SANTE ET DE LA RECHERCHE MEDICALE) FR 3,371
- CJ CHEILJEDANG CORPORATION KR 3,361