A thorough patent search can reveal what has already been invented, helping to prevent wasted effort on ideas that aren’t new. It also supports strategic decisions like R&D direction, partnership opportunities, and market entry. Additionally, analysing patents can provide insights into competitors’ activities and emerging trends in a particular field, making it a valuable tool for innovation and business planning.

In this session, we cover the pros and cons of freely available patent databases, and strategies for conducting basic patent searches across various technological fields.