Environmentally Sound Technologies International Patent Classifications
Patent data allows for an examination of the different levels of innovative activities across renewable energy sectors and permit to classify patents according to their area of application following the International Patent Classification (IPC) codes developed at the World Intellectual Property Organization. The IPC codes are particularly preferable in the renewable energy innovations to the conventional sectoral classification as they allow distinguishing between the relevant technological classes of a particular section.
An inventory and classification of Environmentally Sound Technology, and Project Inventory has been established by the United Nations Framework Climate Change Convention [ UNFCCC ]. This Technology Clearing House is comprised of a Technology Executive Committee and a Technology Centre and Network [TT:CLEAR] and a set of actions aimed to enhance research, development, demonstration, deployment, diffusion and transfer of technologies for climate change mitigation and adaptation.
The databases of TT:CLEAR was implemented to provide a comprehensive and consistent set of information for different technologies. Such a set of data is broad and complex and includes a number of data already compiled and stored in existing databases. Thehe TT:CLEAR databases were designed in a modular fashion. These databases include generic data on technical, economic, and emissions parameters of different technologies – in regard to renewable energies the database is called - Environmental Sound Technologies (ESTs).
In the effort to globally accelerate the ease of Patent Applications for inventors and innovators, and help promote the diffusion of Environmentally Sound Tecnologies to address climate change stemming from the emission of Greenhouse Gases [GHGs] into the Earth’s atmosphere there are specific subclasses of the International Patent Classification system [IPC].
Environmentally Sound Technologies International Patent Classifications
An indexing scheme for environmentally sound technologies
One of the IPC’s objectives is to serve as a basis for investigating the state of the art in given fields of technology. As such, the IPC is clearly well placed to assist with the identification of existing and emerging ESTs for further development or technology transfer research purposes. However, ESTs are currently scattered widely across the scheme in numerous technical fields without any means of identifying them as environmentally sound other than by their function or application.
This proposal therefore seeks the creation of a stand-alone indexing scheme for ESTs, in order that a user of the scheme should be better able to identify inventions which have the potential to assist with addressing the climate change issue. Generally, current indexing schemes exist only within certain subclasses, after the classification scheme. However, it is envisaged that the proposed indexing codes would be grouped independently from existing IPC sections and would be optionally and universally applicable, irrespective of the classification of the invention information.
Environmentally Sound Technologies International Patent Classifications
Definition of environmentally sound technologies
Many patent applications claim advantages in terms of increased efficiency, reduced waste or lower operating/manufacturing costs. A recognised difficulty could therefore lie in establishing the distinction between technologies which merely claim environmental benefits from those which have the potential for a more direct impact upon the global issue of climate change. However, the UNFCCC has established an inventory of ESTs conducive to mitigating and adapting to climate change. This inventory provides a basis on which the proposed indexing codes could be structured.
For example, indexing codes relating to the harnessing of energy from renewable natural resources could be arranged as illustrated below. Where appropriate, relevant IPC places are included to illustrate where these technologies may typically be classified.
An overview of the subject is available on pages 24 and 25 of the document at this link http://www.unav.es/facultad/econom/files/workingpapersmodule/@random497080f7805d2/1257097410_WP_UNAV_11_09.pdf
A detailed concordance scheme is also available at this link http://www.uspto.gov/web/patents/classification/international/est_concordance.htm
