Mapeamento de propriedade intelectual como ferramenta para planejamento estratégico

This article presents the use of patent mapping as a tool for strategic planning for innovation in industrial sectors. Methods for the analysis of intellectual property have gained importance in the scientific and corporative environment since the growth rate of patent applications increases at 5% per year. Additionally, the information contained in the patents is readily available in electronic databanks and more sophisticated data mining analysis tools are available to help in the interpretation of data. Patents are an excellent source of information on technological innovation since the detailed quantitative and qualitative analysis of patents on a given topic over time allows identifying trends and patterns of technological change, and therefore having to some extent a predictive power for future positions. A sample survey conducted in the field of industrial paints is used to show that despite that existing automated analysis tools can help in interpreting the data, a final analysis by experts on the subject is suggested to confirm the trends, enabling its use in strategic planning.