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IPC Subclass
G16Z

INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR SPECIFIC APPLICATION FIELDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

Introduced: January 2019

Classification Context

Section:
PHYSICS
Class:
INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR SPECIFIC APPLICATION FIELDS
Subclass:
INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR SPECIFIC APPLICATION FIELDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

Description

G16Z covers ICT applications and systems tailored to specialized domains that do not fit within other specific G16 subclasses (such as G16B for bioinformatics, G16C for computational chemistry, or G16H for healthcare). This classification serves as a residual category for emerging or niche application fields requiring dedicated digital solutions, data management systems, or computational approaches. Examples may include ICT systems for cultural heritage, environmental monitoring, smart agriculture technologies, or other sector-specific digital infrastructures not explicitly addressed elsewhere in the G16 group. It functions as a safety-net provision for novel application areas until they warrant designation to their own dedicated subclass.

Filing statistics

IPC subclass G16Z recorded 8,309 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings declined from 670 in 2013 to 276 in 2023 (-59%), peaking at 1,574 applications in 2015. The most active applicants in class G16 are PHILIPS ELECTRONICS (4,707 applications), IBM (INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION) (1,767 applications) and SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS COMPANY (1,458 applications).

Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings

In class comparison

G16Z ranks 5th of 5 subclasses with filings in G16, with 8,309 applications between 2013 and 2023, 2.8% of the class. Annual filings declined 59% from 2013 to 2023, below the class as a whole (+476%).

Subclasses of class G16 by patent applications, 2013–2023
RankSubclassTitleApplicationsShare
1G16H, Healthcare Informatics, i.e. Information and Communication Technology [ICT] Specially Adapted for the Handling or Processing of Medical or Healthcare DataHealthcare Informatics, i.e. Information and Communication Technology [ICT] Specially Adapted for the Handling or Processing of Medical or Healthcare Data202,38767.0%
2G16B, Bioinformatics, i.e. Information and Communication Technology [ICT] Specially Adapted for Genetic or Protein-Related Data Processing in Computational Molecular BiologyBioinformatics, i.e. Information and Communication Technology [ICT] Specially Adapted for Genetic or Protein-Related Data Processing in Computational Molecular Biology48,21916.0%
3G16Y, Information and Communication Technology Specially Adapted for the Internet of Things [IoT]Information and Communication Technology Specially Adapted for the Internet of Things [IoT]22,3317.4%
4G16C, Computational Chemistry; Chemoinformatics; Computational Materials ScienceComputational Chemistry; Chemoinformatics; Computational Materials Science20,6866.9%
5G16ZInformation and Communication Technology [ICT] Specially Adapted for Specific Application Fields, Not Otherwise Provided for8,3092.8%

Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings

1 direct subcode

Child Classifications

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  • G16Z 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other main groups of this subclass

Top Applicants

Top 10 applicants by patent filingsfor class G16, 2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT

  1. PHILIPS ELECTRONICS NL 4,707
  2. IBM (INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION) US 1,767
  3. SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS COMPANY KR 1,458
  4. CHINESE ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 1,144
  5. ILLUMINA US 1,097
  6. SIEMENS HEALTHCARE DE 1,074
  7. PHILIPS ELECTRONICS 1,026
  8. FUJIFILM JP 990
  9. PING AN TECHNOLOGY COMPANY 892
  10. ROCHE CH 864