Space Mechatronics and Space Robotics Patent Inventions; the Way to Protect the Space Heritage in the Space Research Centre, Institute of the Polish Academy of Sciences

Abstract

The paper refers to patent protection problems and intellectual property management policy in the Space Research Centre of the Polish Academy of Sciences (SRC PAS) in the context of actively undertaken research topics and projects in the Space Mechatronics and Robotics Laboratory. Inventions in the field of space robotics and mechatronics continuously constitute significant part of the innovative space market. The protection of intellectual property is not only crucial for cooperation in international and multi-entity projects but also may become a stimulus for future business opportunity. Intellectual property portfolio is based mostly on patents that are effective to protect technological innovations in Institute. It consists of perfect documentation of Institute background knowledge and background intellectual property for European and international scientific and research cooperation. It is exploited in commercialization process of R&D results in the terrestrial applications (non-space) and in the space technology transfer process.