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Developing IP Strategy

Developing IP Strategy

A strategic IP workshop enabled Tribosonics to develop an IP strategy that is aligned to its business strategy whilst maximising value creation and capture.

Tribosonics is a transformational and growing technology business that is scaling up and becoming a key player in its markets. By using unique sensing technologies to generate data that enables digitisation (Industry 4.0 and IOT) to create value and enhance sustainability.

Tribosonics’ commercial strategy is to target and develop strategic collaborations with established corporates in key markets; an IP (Intellectual Property) strategy is crucial to enabling this. The company continues to build a strong technology portfolio and has a structured innovation capture and IP pipeline system. From which a base patent portfolio is being constructed. So far, this journey has seen 4 patents filed and a rapid build-up of over 20 potential patent applications. When considering the bandwidth and budget constraints of an SME undertaking a growth plan and a target of 4 patent filings per year. Thus, a solid and focused IP strategy is required.

Tribosonics at IfM workshop
The Tribosonics and IfM teams

The challenge

To begin with, Tribosonics recently transformed its business model from an R&D consultancy addressing one-off technology challenges to a more scalable strategic technology provider. Now, we are building recurring commercial value for its partners and itself. This focuses on using its proprietary sensing technology and data analytics capabilities to extract targeted data that delivers significant value. In order to support the business model transition, the company has engaged with IfM Education and Consultancy Services (IfM ECS) to develop an IP strategy. Therefore, this strategy provides maximum leverage and value capture.

The approach

To begin with, IfM ECS uses a unique template-based approach developed through research at the IfM’s Innovation and IP Management (IIPM) Lab. Thus, the approach, delivered through a workshop, brings together key stakeholders across an organisation to build an IP strategy. Similarly, it supports a firm’s business strategy through maximising value creation and capture. To achieve the best outputs from an IP strategy workshop, ideally, 6 participants will bring:

  • Expertise to cover the business and financial aspects of the company’s strategic plans.
  • Financial position.
  • Comprehension of existing IP assets, their purpose, and adjacent technologies.

Moreover, ensuring people attend with knowledge across these areas is critical to the success of the workshop. For example, the IfM’s approach to IP strategy development is tried and tested on more than 15 organisations. These include leading industrial players in the automotive, electronics and engineering sectors, with start-ups and also governmental organisations.

“It was exciting for our business and our team to be working with such eminent and forward thinking partners and collaborators in innovation and IPR, which play such an important part in our scale up strategy.”

Glenn Fletcher, CEO Tribosonics

The workshop

In addition, the one-day workshop, led by IfM ECS, involved participants from Tribosonics including the Operations Manager (Dan Richardson), Innovation Manager (Jack Sands) and Senior technologist (Dr Sam Hill). Tribosonics engages with world-class IP Attorney Marks & Clerk, whose patent attorney (Andrew Hartley) also joined the workshop.

During the workshop, IfM ECS guided participants through the five-step process:

1. Exploring the company’s business model and technology strategy objectives

Before the workshop, participants complete a template as a starting point to facilitate an effective workshop process. Details from this first step then populate the first layer of the IP strategy template.

2. Identifying business objectives that can be effectively supported by IP

This is a crucial step that companies often find challenging, but which brings out the actual business motives for the use of IP. We employ specifically developed tools for identifying and scoring IP relevant business objectives.

3. Identifying existing and urgent, internal and external IP assets that are relevant for achieving business objectives

The chosen IP assets include patents, trade secrets, copyrights, design rights and relevant foreign-owned IP. These are integrated into the IP strategy template. Therefore, this visualises a strategy dominated by certain IP assets (e.g. patents, trademarks) and when the emphasis might change, e.g. as the business matures and competitive dynamics change.

4. Deciding how specific IP assets can be used effectively

IP assets can be used in different ways and it is of paramount importance to decide on the best way to utilise them. Passive uses of patents include for defensive purposes or proactively for growing markets through carefully crafted licensing approaches. Thus, the workshop process facilities efficient decision making for the use of key IP assets.

5. Aggregate short, medium and long-term IP actions into a coherent IP strategy

Therefore, this final stage of the process helps identify when the emphasis of an IP strategy can be expected to change. For instance, from supporting the raising of capital to preventing competitive entry, to supporting a company’s international scale up ambitions. In conclusion, this final reflection often prompts valuable insights on the effective use of IP along the company’s growth journey.

Tribosonics feedback

Thanks to everyone at the IfM for such an inspiring day and we look forward to future collaborations.

This collaboration will undoubtedly contribute to our strategic IP framework.

Developing a technology company's IP strategy, meeting in progress

Contacts

Dr Frank Tietze leads the Innovation and Intellectual Property Management (IIPM) Lab at the IfM’s Centre for Technology Management. He has been consulting companies, large and small, across different sectors and governmental organisations. @FrankTietze

Dr Frank Tietze

Graham Bell is an Intellectual Property Strategy Consultant and Technologist and joined IfM ECS in 2019. Graham collaborates with the IIPM Lab with a focus on developing IP strategy and supporting toolsets. @GrahamCubicibuc

Graham Bell, an Intellectual Property Strategy Consultant and Technologist

Jack Sands manages Innovation at Tribosonics. Jack’s role is to implement Tribosonics’ innovation strategy. This means building a bedrock of innovation and IP assets into the business to develop and protect the technology and enable growth through value creation and capture. @jack-sands


Originally Published: https://www.ifm.eng.cam.ac.uk/news/event-news/


Tribosonics is an innovation-led scale-up with a strong challenger mindset We drive transformation by using its unique sensing technologies to address challenges in tribological contacts (wear, friction and lubrication).

Located and forged in Sheffield, it serves global markets in Transport, Power Generation and Manufacturing.

For further information or to arrange a discussion about how Tribosonics can add value to your business, contact: Christina King, c.king@tribosonics.com

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Our Mission Global problem We use innovative and novel approaches to ultrasonic sensors to measure and monitor a wide range of engineering applications including film thickness, wear, contact pressure, load, corrosion, material quality etc.

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