The new approach to the management and exploitation of intellectual property assets led to the development of a new model, that represents the entire life cycle of any technology-based intellectual asset (patent, trade secret or software copyright). It consists of four stages, in successive cycles:
Development, including all the activities necessary to expand intellectual property;

• Defence, which includes all the activities aimed at the protection of inventions and intellectual property from any action prejudicial to its value;
• Active Management, including efforts to extract value from IP through the identification of opportunities for market exploitation;
• Operational support, including technical activities in support of each stage of the life cycle and the administrative management of IP.

Eni’s total patent portfolio accounts for over 8,000 patents , that protect about 1,000 inventions , corresponding to as many patent families. This information takes into account the portfolio revision made on annual basis since 2006, which has already led to the abandonment of more than 400 patents, considered obsolete.

In 2009 Eni filed 106 new patent applications – 91 actually, if Polimeri Europa’s contribution on petrochemical issues is excluded: this last figure is Eni’s absolute record.
Since 2005, patent applications increased by about 180%. The 106 patent applications submitted account for an increase of more than 10% of the inventions that Eni owns and will likely generate about 1,000 new patents in the next future.
The real surge in patent applications recorded in the last few years has been mainly in the fields of well drilling and completion, conversion of refinery residues in higher-quality products (EST) and conversion of natural gas (GTL), the formulation of new products and systems for environment protection, alternative and renewable energies.
In particular, so far the results obtained within the recently launched Along With Petroleum program, led to 17 new patent applications. The most important among them concern new polymer materials suitable for organic photovoltaic cells and solar spectrum converters as well as new processes to efficiently convert lignocellulosic biomasses into new-generation biofuel.

 Note

1) - Individual patent or individual patent application filed in Italy or abroad.

2) -  When a patent application is filed in order to protect a new invention, a patent case is started and a new patent family begins, that will be enlarged by the future extensions abroad of the original patent application.