International Patent Classification in Derwent databases

The use of the International Patent Classification (IPC) as an integral part of the production processes for Derwent's patent databases is described. For example, the IPC terms supplied on the incoming newly published patent specifications are used in the initial assignment to the experts who will carry out tasks such as applying Derwent's own classification and indexing. They may also detect errors in the IPC terms and will notify the relevant Patent or Intellectual Property Office accordingly. The way that IPC terms are recorded, and are retrievable as search and as display terms in files such as World Patent Index on the hosts STN, Dialog and Questel is detailed. Derwent's classification and its links with the IPC are described and illustrated with an example using a particular prostaglandin patent.

The challenge of sustaining the research and innovation process

Sustaining the research and innovation process in the 21st century is a complex task. With research budgets under scrutiny, a huge increase in the volume of research publications, mounting patent applications and increased litigation, a successful participant--whether an individual researcher, institution, company or government--needs to be equipped with the right tools and information to make good strategic decisions. Sustainable research is illustrated here as a "cycle" leading from pure research to applied innovations onto patenting through to commercial wealth creation, which can then be returned as further research and development. Using case studies and examples from the fields of biotechnology and nanotechnology, critical stages of this cycle are identified and illustrated with data, tools and analysis.Research process Innovation cycle Strategic decisions EuroCRIS Biotechnology Nanotechnology Database use