Abstract
This chapter describes the methodology, characteristics and potential use of BioPat, a dataset containing patents in the field of biofuels. The innovative methodology we use aims to solve drawbacks related to how patent data are allocated and organised in international databases. In order to create a database which includes patents strictly related to the investigated field, we propose an original method based on keywords, rather than on International Patent Classification (IPC) codes. Starting with a systematic mapping of biofuel production processes, we built a simplified but comprehensive description of the technological domain related to the production of biofuels by applying so-called process analysis. The keyword selection relies on an iterative approach, based on an analysis of recent scientific literature. The database was finalised with a series of interviews with experts in the biofuels sector and compared with IPC-based biofuel codes, revealing improved accuracy when selecting data using our methodology.
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Notes
- 1.
For example, Nannochloropsis (an alga) AND “renewable *ethanol” OR “green *diesel” OR *methanol OR *buthanol OR biomethane OR biomethiletere OR “Synthet* fuel*” OR biodiesel OR “renewable fuel*” OR biofuel* OR.
- 2.
After that, we verified if the downloads could represent a significant part of the whole universe achieved using only the general keywords. The huge specific outcome obtained by using the general keywords strongly reinforces the choice of working with selected specific keywords rather than working on a broader definition of biofuels (e.g. Karmarkar-Deshmukh and Pray 2009) or on IPC codes (e.g. OECD documents).
- 3.
The Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) agreement is Annex 1 C of the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the World Trade Organization, signed in Marrakesh, Morocco, on 15 April 1994. The TRIPS agreement introduced intellectual property law into the international trading system. In 2001, the Doha declaration clarified the scope of TRIPS, stating, for example, that TRIPS can and should be interpreted in light of the goal “to promote access to medicines for all” and should respect the traditional knowledge of tribal communities. The declaration also mentioned the patentability of living materials. TRIPS also specify that the protection and enforcement of all intellectual property rights shall meet the objectives of contributing to the promotion of technological innovation and the transfer and dissemination of technology, to the mutual advantage of producers and users of technological knowledge and in a manner conducive to social and economic welfare and a balance of rights and obligations.
- 4.
- 5.
Figure 37 represents the highest number of countries considered so far in a environmental technology field. For instance, Johnstone et al. (2010) considered 25 countries.
- 6.
Our methodology results particularly effective for EPO because the address contained in the variable is consistent in all records. As shown by Table 11.5, the variable “assignee address” is not exploitable for USPTO.
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Acknowledgments
The authors would like to thank Alessandra Molina and Alessandro Palma for their initial contribution during the collection of keywords, Federico Caviggioli for his advice on downloading patents, Vincenzo Alfano, Alessandro Blasi and Carlo Pignatelli for patent validation and Carlotta Greci and Corrado Pollastri for assistance in data management. The support of the Regione Lazio, University Roma Tre, INEA, ENEA and European Union D.G. Research with the grant number 266959 to the research project “PICK-ME – Policy Incentives for the Creation of Knowledge: Methods and Evidence” is also gratefully acknowledged. The usual disclaimers apply.
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Costantini, V., Crespi, F., Curci, Y. (2012). BioPat: An Investigation Tool for Analysis of Industry Evolution, Technological Paths and Policy Impact in the Biofuels Sector. In: Costantini, V., Mazzanti, M. (eds) The Dynamics of Environmental and Economic Systems. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-5089-0_11
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