Background.- A research programme for improving forecasts of patent filings.- From theory to time series.- An assessment of the comparative accuracy of time series forecasts of patent filings: the benefits of disaggregation in space or time.- Driving forces of patent applications at the European Patent Office: a sectoral approach.- Time series methods to forecast patent filings.- International patenting at the European Patent Office: aggregate, sectoral and family filings.- Micro data for macro effects.- Improving forecasting methods at the European Patent Office.