Quick Scan - Patent search service
The European Commission, DG XIII, responsible for the specific programme for the dissemination and optimization of research results (INNOVATION), has contracted the European Patent Office as a partner in the development of "Quick Scan". Quick Scan is a system which investigates patent databases and compares project proposals for RTD programmes with currently registered patents. The system is being developed as a qualitative criterion in the evaluation of proposals, using proposals submitted under the "Technology validation and technology transfer" action line of the INNOVATION programme as an initial test. In particular the service is geared towards SMEs, since some two-thirds of SMEs do not have sufficient resources to access the patent system. In addition, the system aims to raise awareness of the patent system amongst scientific and industrial communities, and the general public. Estimates suggest that 75% of technical knowledge is only available in patent literature, and this is therefore an extremely valuable source. Quick Scan allows search results to be found at an early stage in project development, before significant funding is committed. The search results provide a mass of information to proposers, on technologies, markets and their competitors, much of which is often new to them. This information may also be used as evidence of a project's novelty to secure additional financing. The 100 proposals selected to go into the development phase, following the INNOVATION call for technology transfer and validation projects, were all put forward for assessment by Quick Scan. Of these, and without the proposals having been geared for Quick Scan assessment, 90% could be searched by the European Patent Office examiners. A report detailing the results of this first test phase will be available shortly.