We are currently developing the documentation of statistics. At the moment, the content is not necessarily up-to-date in all respects.
Patenting: documentation of statistics
The documentation of the statistics describes how the statistics were compiled and what methods were used in the compilation. The data help interpret the figures of the statistics and evaluate their reliability and comparability. The quality report is based on the EU's SIMS model. The documentation also contains change releases describing changes in the statistics and possible specifying methodological descriptions.
If you are looking for statistical figures for these statistics, go to the statistics page: Patenting
Quality report
Data description (SIMS 3.1)
The statistics have been discontinued. These statistics contain data on patents applied for and granted in Finland by applicant (private person/enterprise and domestic/foreign), industry, the International Patent Classification and geographic area. The statistics also contain data on international patenting by Finnish enterprises and corporations (granted European and US patents by industry). R&D activity generates new knowledge and technology. The introduction and application of these into practice shows as new production processes and products and patents. A patent is a sole right granted by state authorities for a limited period to the exploitation of an invention to its inventor or the holder of the inventor's rights. For enterprises, it is one indicator of the productiveness of their R&D activity.
Concepts and definitions (SIMS 3.4)
Patent
A patent is a prohibition right. A patent is a right held by the patent owner to prohibit others from commercially exploiting his or her invention. Commercial exploitation includes the manufacture, sale, use and imports of the patented product or use of the patented process (cf. Patent Act, Section 3). The patent right is territorially defined, applying in those countries in which the patent was applied for and granted. The right is valid for a limited period of time, generally no more than 20 years from the filing date of the application. The right is only valid if the patent is in force. Annual renewal fees must be paid for the patent to remain in effect. The patent protects the invention or inventions that are specified in the patent claims. The description of the invention can be used to interpret the claims. The invention may be for instance a new process, appliance, product or new application of such. One patent application may include claims falling into all these categories, as long as they are based on a single inventive concept. A product claim protects the product regardless of how it is made or used. A process claim protects both the process specified in it and the product made using it, whether or not the patent contains a product claim. A new use of an existing product may also be patented. The invention to be patented must be new, and it must be an invention that can be used in industry. When patentability is being assessed, the definition of the claims is compared with what was previously known. The time limit is the filing date (or the priority date). Patentability is determined by all factors that were known before the filing date (cf. Patent Act, Section 2). In practice, an invention is considered new if a decision on its patent claims has not been delivered anywhere else, either in Finland or in another country. Industrial applicability essentially means that the invention solves some technical problem or that it is expected to have a technical effect or impact. Section 1 of the Patent Act lists inventions that as such are not regarded as susceptible of industrial application and patentable, even though they may be new and inventive.
Institutional mandate (SIMS 6)
The compilation of statistics is guided by the Statistics Act. The Statistics Act contains provisions on collection of data, processing of data and the obligation to provide data. Besides the Statistics Act, the General Data Protection Regulation, the Data Protection Act and the Act on the Openness of Government Activities are applied to processing of data when producing statistics.
Statistics Finland compiles statistics in line with the EU’s regulations applicable to statistics, which steer the statistical agencies of all EU Member States.
Further information: Statistical legislation
Quality assurance (SIMS 11.1)
Quality management requires comprehensive guidance of activities. The European Statistics Code of Practice forms the basis for the common quality system of the European Statistical System.
The Code of Practice is based on 16 principles that concern statistical authorities' independence, accountability and the quality of the processes and data to be published.
The principles are in line with the Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics approved by the United Nations Statistics Commission and are supplementary to them. The quality criteria of Official Statistics of Finland are compatible with the European Statistics Code of Practice.
Further information:
Release calendar (SIMS 8.1)
Statistics Finland publishes new statistical data at 8 am on weekdays in its web service. The release times of statistics are given in advance in the release calendar available in the web service. The data become public after they have been updated in the web service.
Further information: Publication principles for statistics at Statistics Finland
User access (SIMS 8.3)
The data are released to all users at the same time. Statistical data may be processed at Statistics Finland and information on them may be given before release only by persons involved in the production of the statistics concerned or who need the data of the statistics concerned in their own work before the data are published.
Further information: Publication principles for statistics
Unless otherwise specifically stated in connection with the product, data or service concerned, Statistics Finland is the producer and copyright owner of the data.
Further information: The terms of use for statistical data
Confidentiality - policy (SIMS 7.1)
The data protection of data collected for statistical purposes is guaranteed. The compilation of statistics is guided by the Statistics Act. Alongside the Statistics Act, the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (eur-lex.europa.eu) and the Finnish Data Protection Act (Finlex.fi) are applied to the processing of personal data. Provisions on the confidentiality of data collected for statistical purposes are laid down in the Act on the Openness of Government Activities (Finlex.fi).
The data are processed only by persons who need the data in their work. The use of data is restricted by usage rights. All persons employed by Statistics Finland have signed a pledge of secrecy, where they have obliged to keep secret the data prescribed as confidential by virtue of the Statistics Act or the Act on the Openness of Government Activities.
Further information: Data protection