Patent ranking indicators: a framework for the evaluation of a patent portfolio

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to define a managerial solution to patent evaluation. The problem of patent evaluation is widely analysed in the body of literature, but there has not been a study considering the patent value through an aggregate perspective. Over the past decade, numerous quantitative approaches to patent evaluation have been developed. However, the indicators adopted in the evaluation process are considered separately. In this study, we fill this gap by designing a new methodology that provides a ranking of patents by reducing the qualitative evaluation components and in addition an evaluation based on certain key performance indicators (KPIs). After a brief illustration of the different steps of the methodology, we validate the framework drawing upon a case study undertaken in an Italian company leader in the satellite solution and services field.