Know what works.
- Overview of (new) technical developments
- Transparency of new and usable technologies
- Tech trends, current and potential applications
- Requirements for R&D and innovation development
- Background for product development
- Targeted knowledge transfer into the company
Technology screenings and scouting:
the basis for R&D and innovation
Why are technology screenings and scouting so important for the innovation process? We experience how new technologies change our lives every day. They are particularly important for innovation development because they make new benefits and applications, greater convenience, higher efficiency and much more possible in the first place. They create the conditions for growth. The aim of technology screening and scouting is to recognise new technologies in good time, evaluate them for the company and make them usable – a complex but crucial task for companies of all sizes and in all sectors.
What is technology screening?
In a technology screening, various sources (patent and trend databases, websites, forums, publications, etc.) are specifically “screened”. This means that we search globally for relevant technologies and technical feasibility in the context of the customer order and jointly defined search fields. This requires specialised knowledge, software solutions and database access. The result is usually a presentation to the customer combined with a detailed tech report.
What is technology scouting?
In technology scouting, we use the same tools but a different search logic to look for possible technical solutions to a described problem. For example: “What is the best way to produce product X?” or “Where are there applications worldwide that could solve our problem?” In this respect, technology scoutings are always highly individualised tasks that do not follow any standard.
Technology screenings include tech trends, tech applications and patents
Tech trends
Overview of global technology developments and their areas of application
Technology trends enable early recognition of global technology developments (weak signals). In most cases, these are “emerging technologies” that still have research and lab status, are often developed in university institutions and are not yet ready for technology or the market: Studies, prototypes, pilots and test series, through to initial applications. Depending on the search field, we make global technology trends visible and understandable. We utilise worldwide trend databases and trend researchers from our network.
Tech applications
Global screening of exemplary applications
Initial applications have the character of a “proof of concept”. Applications are more concrete than tech trends and demonstrate the concrete feasibility of applications implemented in other countries, industries and contexts. Through direct contact and knowledge transfer with experts from these companies, our customers can adapt and utilise technological knowledge more quickly and efficiently.
Patents
Targeted analysis of global patent databases
85% of the world’s technological knowledge is documented in the patent literature. Not only in the area of core entrepreneurial expertise, but also in neighbouring areas and potentially disruptive areas of technology. Based on the search request and defined customer requirements, relevant technologies, functionalities and benefits are made transparent and utilisable through technology screening.