International experts in a recent webinar discussed how ‘smart agriculture’ – modern information and communication technologies for agriculture – will radically change the way we do things. Patent databases can play a key role in enabling researchers and innovators to leverage technology for agriculture through up-to-date information. Patents or Intellectual Property databases are relevant, valuable and comprehensive sources of technical and legal information that can be used for research and development of innovations.

1. NewsletterHappenings
In-house version 20 November 2020, No.1881
Intellectual property databases crucial for innovation in
smart agriculture
Computers, satellites, sensors, automated machines,
Internet of Things (IoT), drones and a wide range of
technologies allow us to reach levels of precision that
were unimaginable a few years ago. Key to driving
innovation in smart agriculture is the ability to enable
researchers, scholars and innovators to access up to
date information and research partnerships.
With India’s focus on smart agriculture, it is critical that
researchers and innovators understand the current
trends in agricultural innovation. When compared with
journals or publications, patent databases are much
more advanced and informative. “At the Intellectual
Property Facilitation Cell at ICRISAT (IPFC), we always
advise researchers to refer to patent literature search
for latest information while writing a thesis or a
proposal, in addition to manuscripts and journals,” said
Dr Surya Mani Tripathi, Legal Counsel at ICRISAT.
Patent databases give researchers access to patents
documents that can help them learn more about
innovations or options to replicate them. “A patent
document contains all the technical, legal and business
information pertaining to the innovation,” said
Mr Ricardo Oltra Garcia, Team Manager - Operations,
European Patent Office (EPO).
▪▪ The technical information included in patent
documents are linked to each other that allow to
access everything around that innovation or field of
technology.
▪▪ The legal information includes the scope of claims
that describe the legal scope of the patent, that is,
which part of the innovation has been covered by the
particular patent and which isn’t.
▪▪ The business information includes who the applicant
is, companies that are investing in it and allows one to
track trends.
Another big advantage of a patent database is the
access to global patent information. Patent landscapes
help to see and forecast trends in innovations and help
build global partnerships. Patent landscapes also help
organizations take informed decisions about their IP
strategy.
Webinar on solving a puzzle in agriculture in progress.
Photo: ICRISAT
International experts in a recent webinar discussed how ‘smart agriculture’ – modern information and communication
technologies for agriculture – will radically change the way we do things. Patent databases can play a key role in
enabling researchers and innovators to leverage technology for agriculture through up-to-date information. Patents or
Intellectual Property databases are relevant, valuable and comprehensive sources of technical and legal information
that can be used for research and development of innovations.
This work contributes
to UN Sustainable
Development Goals