New and inventive: Patent searching – novelty and non obviousness

Not every invention qualifies for a patent, and understanding why is an important part of protecting your ideas. This workshop introduces the 2 core patentability requirements: being the first in the world (novelty) and not being obvious to someone skilled in the field (non‑obviousness). These concepts guide patent examiners and help innovators make informed decisions about their intellectual property strategy.

You’ll explore how to search patent databases and other technical publications to identify relevant prior art. We’ll cover practical techniques such as keyword approaches, classification searching and ways to navigate large volumes of technical information. The session encourages participants to take an active role in their patent research while still consulting a registered patent agent or patent lawyer for professional advice.

Beyond assessing patentability, you’ll see how strategic searching can support broader innovation goals. Effective prior‑art searching can reveal trends, highlight gaps, strengthen competitive intelligence and inspire new directions for R&D. Whether you plan to file internationally or simply want to avoid infringing existing patents, this workshop offers clear, accessible tools to help you evaluate your invention’s uniqueness and understand how thoughtful searching supports both protection and innovation.