Research on the factors how to avoid un-utilized patents to support strengthening technology management

For the enterprises aiming technology-base business with R&D, Intellectual Property (IP) Management has an important role to make their further business growth through Technology Management. Japan has been one of leading countries from aspect of the number of patent applications. However, the ratio for granting patents is approximately 35%, also it is pointed out that the ratio of un-utilized patents out of the number of patent applications is about 18%. In order to make IP activities contribute to the competitiveness of enterprises, it is strongly requested to revise the strategy of patent applications, also with drastic change on large number of un-utilized patents. In this research, the reason of huge number of patent applications has been discussed with deductive approach considering our institutional factors, focusing down to the lack of integration of IP department with enterprise´s other functional departments. The integration level is investigated with questionnaires to the industry. Based on the results of questionnaires, it was clarified that there exist certain factors why so many un-utilized patents generated. Also, IP people´s consciousness on the importance of the integration was clarified with interview, to recommend how we should change our Patent Strategy to support strengthening Technology Management.