Patents

Development of the patent families on the topic of carbon reinforced concrete construction

Technical property rights are particularly important within the scope of research and development. Apart from the original protection function for an invention, they also serve as a proof of the competence of the respective company. Further, there is a positive relationship between the application for patents and the productivity of a researcher and developer. Patent portfolios can also be analysed with the help of a patent search, for example, using the PIZ Dresden. Based on the data acquired, technology trends, sales markets and competitors in carbon reinforced concrete construction can be determined.

The following Figure 1 provides an exemplary insight into the amount of patent families for carbon reinforced concrete construction in the area of non-metallic reinforcement of construction (IPC E04C-0507). In combination with search terms for “carbon reinforced concrete“ there is a prevailing, continuous increase in patent activities for the German protected territory. In a more detailed consideration it can be seen that the most priorities of patent families are registered in Germany (40). The claims of international WO documents (22) rank second, followed by the priorities of patent families of the European EP documents (12). The claims from the United States of American (10) rank fourth, while China (2) and South Korea (2) share the fifth place. Here it is noted that over time, several patents can emerge from the individual priorities of patent families.

In addition, Figure 1 discloses the quantity of national patent families on the European level (excluding the German protected territory), where a continuous rise in patent activities is also recorded. In this case, most priorities of patent families result from the claims of international WO documents (31) and European EP documents (20). The United States of America (16) and France (9) rank third and fourth respectively. Germany (7) is the fifth strongest power.

On the international level, a comparable picture can be seen, as shown in Figure 1. There is a continuous rise in patent activities in which the priorities of patent families from the claims from South Korea (90) are most frequently represented. The priorities of international WO documents (79) account for the second most frequently represented, followed by the claims from China (68) and the United States of America (66). In an international comparison of the leading industrial nations, Germany (10) ranks seventh, behind the claims from Japan (51) and European EP documents (22).

In the following you can see, by way of example, a selection of existing patents in the C³ consortium. Further patents can be found in the Download area.