IP Talks #2 features a session dedicated to Prior Art Search
The second edition of IP Talks brought to the Técnico community a session focused on Prior Art Search in patents, an essential step to understand what already exists in patent literature, thus guiding protection and development decisions. The event took place on November 27th at 12:00 PM at the Alameda campus and gathered researchers, faculty and students interested in deepening their strategies for searching and evaluating inventions.
Promoted by the Intellectual Property Office (Núcleo de Propriedade Intelectual, NPI), the IP Talks are informal moments of learning and discussion on key topics related to Intellectual Property. In each edition, participants have the opportunity to clarify doubts, discuss real cases and understand how to apply this knowledge in academic and scientific contexts.
In this session, Susana Rodrigues, Patent Consultant at Inventa International, presented methods and tools used in patent Prior Art Search, highlighting the importance of identifying pre-existing technologies and understanding inventive-step criteria. Throughout the presentation, essential concepts were introduced, such as how patent databases work, the international classification systems used to organize technical documents and how to build effective search strategies. These elements, presented in an accessible manner, helped participants understand how prior art search can inform decisions about protection and disclosure from the very start of a research project.
The session’s atmosphere reflected the community’s growing interest in knowledge valorization, with several participants recognizing the practical usefulness of the tools discussed and the relevance of the topic for responsible research practices.
In an increasingly competitive and interconnected scientific environment, mastering the principles of prior art search in the patent field is crucial to ensuring the protection and impact of the research developed at Técnico.
As IP Talks are supported by Caixa Geral de Depósitos (CGD), and will continue throughout the academic year, with the next session scheduled for February 26th, 2026, bringing new topics and experts to promote Intellectual Property literacy and support the academic community in strategically managing its creations.