Category Archives: Patents

Text mining to gain technical intelligence for acquired target selection: A case study for China’s computer numerical control machine tools industry

CTI, Data Type, Patents, Research Examples, Research Type

Technology strategy plays an increasingly important role in today’s Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) activities. Informing that strategy with empirical intelligence offers great potential value to R&D managers and technology policy makers. This paper proposes a methodology, based on patent analysis, to extract technical intelligence to identify M&A target technologies and evaluate relevant target companies to facilitate M&A target selection. We apply the term clumping process and a trend analysis together with policy and market information to profile present R&D status and capture future development signals and trends in order to grasp a range of significant domain-based technologies. Furthermore, a comparison between a selected acquirer and leading players is used to identify significant technologies and sub-technologies for specific strategy-oriented technology M&A activities. Finally, aiming to recommend appropriate M&A target companies, we set up an index-based system to evaluate the acquired target candidates from both firms-side perspective and target firm-side perspective and differentially weigh for specific M&A situations. We provide an empirical study in the field of computer numerical control machine tools (CNCMT) in China to identify technology M&A targets for an emerging Chinese CNCMT company — Estun Automation under different M&A strategies.

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0040162516305364

Author(s): Tingting Ma, Yi Zhang, Lu Huang , Lining Shang, Kangrui Wang, Huizhu Yu, Donghua Zhu
Organization(s):  Beijing Wuzi University; Beijing Institute of Technology
Source: Technological Forecasting and Social Change
Year: 2016

Building a View of the Future of Antibiotics Through the Analysis of Primary Patents

Data Type, Patents, Research Examples, Research profiling, Research Type

The primary patent application of a new drug is the application that claims the chemical structure of that new compound and is usually the first patent filled regarding that new drug. Therefore, the analysis of the recent primary patents in a therapeutic group reflects the results of the research toward finding new compounds and allows building a view of the future of that therapeutic class. The identification of the primary patents is challenging and requires data treatment, visualization, and analysis tools. In order to address this matter, this paper presents a method for gathering and analyzing the primary patent applications for new antibiotics using the VantagePoint software. This therapeutic class was chosen due to the continuous rise of resistant bacteria, the critical need for new antibiotics that, combined with the lack new drugs in the market, leads to an urgent need for public and private policies to improve research in the field. The method resulted in 1333 primary patent applications of new antibiotics that were analyzed regarding the discovery strategy, the chemical classes, and mechanisms of action and according to the bacteria for which they are active. This analysis was made using different VantagePoint resources and allowed view of the new compounds that might reach the market in the future.

Author(s): Cristina d’Urso de Souza Mendes and Adelaide Maria de Souza Antunes
Organization(s): Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Brazilian National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI)
Source: Anticipating Future Innovation Pathways Through Large Data Analysis pp 303-320
Year: 2016

Case study of patents related to captopril, Squibb’s first blockbuster

Patents, Research Examples, Research profiling

Arterial hypertension affects over one billion people around the world, making the prevention and treatment of this disease vital. Despite the efforts made to develop new antihypertensive drugs, few new therapies have become available. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors have heralded major steps forward in the treatment of arterial hypertension and cardiovascular diseases since the first compound of this class, captopril, was approved for clinical use in 1981.

In this review, the authors investigated the patent documents that cite the priority patent for captopril, Squibb’s first blockbuster, or any other patent from its patent family. The documents were classified into the following: new compounds, new compositions, treatment, process (preparation of a compound), use of a compound, and process for the preparation of an intermediate. Therefore, the readers can identify potential innovations in the field.

The pharmaceutical sector has attempted to provide significant technological developments on anti-hypertensive drugs based on the patenting of captopril, including the development of new compositions further comprising an ACE inhibitor and other antihypertensive agent, along with dual action compounds, novel molecules with dual activity. The target is to find a new agent with better blood pressure-lowering efficacy, improved safety and good tolerability profile.

http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/13543776.2016.1227321

Author(s): Adelaide Maria de Souza Antunes, Rafaela Di Sabato Guerrante, Jorge de Paula Costa Ávila, Flavia Maria Lins Mendes
Organization(s): Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ)/National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI-Brazil)
Source: Expert Opinion on Therapeutic Patents
Year: 2016

Xylose utilization in ethanol production: a patent landscape

Patents, Research Examples, Research profiling

Bioethanol is considered as one of the best alternatives to fossil fuels as unwanted biomass is converted into fuel ethanol. As there is increasing demand for fuel ethanol, researchers have started looking for some better ways to produce ethanol. In light of the present scenario, we have attempted to develop a global patent landscape view of xylose utilization in ethanol production. Our country-specific patent analysis has revealed that most of the research on xylose-utilizing ethanol production is carried out in the USA followed by China and Sweden. Moreover, it has been found that more patent applications/grants have been claimed for processes, followed by recombinant strains. Patent publication trends for genes and enzymes have shown that most of the research is focused on the xylA gene and xylulokinase. Assignee patenting trends suggest that Du Pont is the major player in xylose-utilizing ethanol production research. Additionally, analysis based on micro-organisms used in xylose-utilizing ethanol production revealed that most of the research has been performed using Saccharomyces cerevisiae to enhance the ethanol yields.
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/bbb.1664/full

Author(s): Pratap Devarapalli, Nishad Deshpande, Rajkumar R Hirwani
Organization(s): CSIR-Unit for Research and Development of Information Products
Source: Biofuels, Bioproducts and Biorefining
Year: 2016

Leveraging patent landscape analysis and IP competitive intelligence for competitive advantage

CTI, Patents, Research Examples, Research Type

Patent landscape and the accompanying IP competitive intelligence involves understanding and anticipating the competitive environment within which a company operates. More specifically, IP competitive intelligence highlights emerging IP risks, provides patent portfolio benchmarking, monitors competitor technology development efforts, and predicts commercialization of technology.

This paper provides a framework for patent landscape and IP competitive intelligence as driven by strategic intent. This paper advocates the benefits of both “quantitative” statistical analysis and “qualitative” human intelligence for IP competitive intelligence. Moreover, this paper defines four Levels of IP analysis with pruned examples for effective competitive intelligence.

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0172219016000193

Author: Yateen R. Pargaonkar
Organization: Chevron Energy Technology Company
Source: World Patent Information
Year: 2016

Identifying target for technology mergers and acquisitions using patent information and semantic analysis

Data Type, Patents, Research Examples, Strategic planning

Technology plays an increasingly important role in today’s enterprise competition. Technology mergers and acquisitions (Tech M&A), as an effective way to acquire external technology resources rapidly, have attracted attention from researchers because of their potential realization of value through synergy. A big challenge that faces corporate managers and government policy makers is how to identify the appropriate target to support effective technology integration. In this study, we develop a model of target selection of Tech M&A from the perspective of technology relatedness and R&D capability. We present the results relating to M&A in the field of cloud computing in China.

http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/articleDetails.jsp?arnumber=7273128

Author(s): Lu Huang, Lining Shang, Kangrui Wang, Alan L Porter, and Yi Zhang
Organization(s): Beijing Institute of Technology
Source: 2015 Portland International Conference on Management of Engineering and Technology
Year: 2015

Global patent analysis of power lithium-ion battery separator

Data Type, Patents, Research Examples, Research profiling, Research Type

The development of technologies related to power lithium-ion battery separator has been taken place in recent years. In order to provide appropriate decision references for the industry development, patent analysis was carried out. On the basis of Derwent Innovation Index (DII), global patents related to power lithium-ion battery separator were analyzed from aspects of global development scale and trend, technology fields, geographic distribution, top assignees. The findings show that power lithium-ion battery separator industry has entered fast-growth stage. In branch technology fields, raw materials are the priority research and development (R&D) areas of power lithium-ion battery separator. Japan has applied for a large number of patents and occupied the leading position. Asahi Kasei Chemicals Corporation, Toray industries, Tonen Chemical Corporation possess strategic advantages over other enterprises in the current competitive situation of international separator market.

http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/articleDetails.jsp?tp=&arnumber=7385791&url=http%3A%2F%2Fieeexplore.ieee.org%2Fxpls%2Fabs_all.jsp%3Farnumber%3D7385791

Author(s): Na Li; Quan Guan ; Siming Tan ; Yunfei Wang ; Zhiyong Chu ; Jin Liu
Organization(s): Qingdao Institute of Science & Tech. Inf.
Source: 2015 IEEE International Conference on Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management (IEEM)
Year: 2015

An informatics-based analysis of developments to date and prospects for the application of microalgae in the biological sequestration of industrial flue gas

Patents, Research Examples, Research profiling, Research Type, S&T lit

The excessive emission of flue gas contributes to air pollution, abnormal climate change, global warming, and sea level rises associated with glacial melting. With the ability to utilize NOx as a nitrogen source and to convert solar energy into chemical energy via CO2 fixation, microalgae can potentially reduce air pollution and relax global warming, while also enhancing biomass and biofuel production as well as the production of high-value-added products. This informatics-based review analyzes the trends in the related literature and in patent activity to draw conclusions and to offer a prospective view on the developments of microalgae for industrial flue gas biosequestration. It is revealed that in recent years, microalgal research for industrial flue gas biosequestration has started to attract increasing attention and has now developed into a hot research topic, although it is still at a relatively early stage, and needs more financial and policy support in order to better understand microalgae and to develop an economically viable process. In comparison with onsite microalgal CO2 capture, microalgae-based biological DeNOx appears to be a more realistic and attractive alternative that could be applied to NOx treatment.

http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00253-015-7277-7

Author(s): Xi Zhu, Junfeng Rong, Hui Chen, Chenliu He, Wensheng Hu, Qiang Wang
Organization(s): Chinese Academy of Sciences, SINOPEC Research Institute of Petroleum Processing, Hubei University of Technology
Source: Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology
Year: 2016

Navigating the innovation trajectories of technology by combining specialization score analyses for publications and patents: graphene and nano-enabled drug delivery

Future-oriented technology analysis, Patents, Research Examples, S&T lit, ,

In this study, we combine the specialization scores for publications and patents (the latter is a new indicator of cross-disciplinary engagement) to achieve more comprehensive navigation of the innovation trajectory of a technology. The patent specialization score draws upon counterpart research publication indicator concepts to measure patent diversity. Two nano-based technologies—Nano-enabled drug delivery (NEDD) and Graphene—provide contrasting explorations of the behavior of this indicator, alongside research publication indicators. Results show distinctive patterns of the two technologies and for the respective publication and patent indicators. NEDD research, as evidenced by publication and citation patterns, engages highly diverse research fields. In contrast, NEDD development, as reflected in patent International Patent Classifications (IPCs), concentrates on relatively closely associated fields. Graphene presents the opposite picture, with closely linked disciplines contributing to research, but much more diverse fields of application for its patents. We suggest that analyzing the field diversity of research publications and patents together, employing both specialization scores, can offer fruitful insights into innovation trajectories. Such information can contribute to technology and innovation management and policy for such emerging technologies.

http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs11192-015-1826-9

Author(s): Seokbeom Kwon, Alan Porter, Jan Youtie
Organization(s): Georgia Institute of Technology
Source: Scientometrics
Year: 2016

Nano/micro-electro mechanical systems: a patent view

Citation analysis, CTI, Patents, Research Examples, Research profiling, Research Type, Strategic planning

Combining both bibliometrics and citation network analysis, this research evaluates the global development of micro-electro mechanical systems (MEMS) research based on the Derwent Innovations Index database. We found that worldwide, the growth trajectory of MEMS patents demonstrates an approximate S shape, with United States, Japan, China, and Korea leading the global MEMS race. Evidenced by Derwent class codes, the technology structure of global MEMS patents remains steady over time. Yet there does exist a national competitiveness component among the top country players. The latecomer China has become the second most prolific country filing MEMS patents, but its patent quality still lags behind the global average.

http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11051-015-3273-1

Author(s): Guangyuan Hu and Weishu Liu
Organization(s): Shanghai University of Finance and Economics,Shanghai Jiao Tong University
Source: Journal of Nanoparticle Research
Year: 2015