A mechanical engineering company active at international scale, with annual sales of about 120 million euros, experienced a significant drop in profitability due to increasing international competition. During a one-day IP basic workshop the improvement potentials in the patent portfolio, consisting of some 65 patent families, were assessed.

a) Potential for IP cost efficiency: 26 points (approx. 20,000 to 30,000 euros per year)
b) Potential for IP chance: 18 points (new sales potentials of 8 to 10 million euros in two years)
c) Potential for IP risks: 30 points (continuous monitoring of the competition needed)
d) Potential for IP process quality: 39 points (optimized processes result in savings of 24,000 to 36,000 euros per year)

Considering the precarious economic situation and the IP offensive launched by the competition, executive management requested immediate implementation in the IP cost efficiency and IP risk sectors.
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While sales remained constant at around 180 million euros per year, the IP costs for an automotive supplier had risen by 28% in the previous three years. PATEV was commissioned by executive management to work with the R&D department to formulate a concept to reduce the costs by 40%. The joint analysis resulted in a high potential for savings: only approximately 40% of the expensive property rights portfolio were actually being used. With the introduction of an IP management tool the high costs for patent searches could also be shaved.

The savings potentials were significantly higher – at 48%. This could then be invested in new patent applications.
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A successful components and subsystems company with sales of 210 million euros per year wanted to become a system supplier to its customers. An analysis indicated that important technological prerequisites were missing. The required technologies were described in detail in the spirit of a technology needs program; a worldwide technology search was launched. By acquiring holdings in a spin-off pursuing applied research, the firm’s own R&D competence could be decisively expanded. Property rights positions were supplemented by licensing and the transfer of important know-how from a leading European technological group.Capitalizing on excellent contacts to its own customers’ purchasing departments, our client – just eighteen months after acquiring the technologies – was able to make its debut as a systems supplier.
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A company in the aviation and aerospace sector commissioned PATEV to design and implement a global technology licensing program. PATEV organized the property rights by fields of application, contacted potential licensees, determined their needs for new solutions, searched for possible solution modules within the client‘s portfolio, and supported the efficient development of new or improved products. The objective was to take the many and varied high-value aviation and aerospace technologies on hand, and make them available to other industries in a true win-win situation. PATEV defined and implemented the Web-based IP and technology management system IPwebS.

This system, built on the force.com platform, provides the client with a highly efficient solution which can be accessed by all its subsidiaries, all around the globe. A wide range of meaningful dashboards and a comprehensive reporting system provide executive management with solid and reliable IPT information.
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