Competitive Intelligence and Technology Watch From Patent Information to Leverage Innovation

Abstract

Information is an indispensable resource for the functioning and survival of organizations. To compete in the global environment of rapid change, where currently they are located, information is needed to help them innovate and gain competitive advantages in the markets in which they operate. Patent information can provide an increasing competitiveness through the technology transfer that it motivates and proved to be very important economically by encouraging creativity and innovation. It is argued that coherent and effective consultation of the information resulting from research and development activities with industrial application, performing competitive intelligence, and technology watch can leverage innovation and generate competitive advantages in business. The goal of this competitive intelligence and technology watch is to stimulate creativity, leading to new product/process development and the consequent improvement of innovation rates with cost efficiency. Some examples of the use and application of this information resource in different types of industry are presented.