Patent Tracker --> Patenting trends in Algae based Biofuels

Email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser.
Patent Tracker - 12.0
Patenting trends in Algae based Biofuels

Patent Activity The escalating concerns on global climate change and the rising cost of petroleum based energy are driving governments around the world to promote the use of alternate energy sources in order to reduce air pollution and the dependence on imported fossil fuels. Biofuel feedstocks are associated with several environmental, economic and humanitarian aspects. A sustainable biofuels industry needs to rely on non-food crops such as cellulosic feedstocks for large scale production and the resultant low biofuel yields are the major obstacles for commercialization of these technologies. Biodiesel made from algae appears to be a promising technology with high prospects for commercialization in the near future. Many petroleum majors and big chemical companies are venturing into the biofuel business by investing millions of dollars in research and collaborating with small companies. Biodiesel, ethanol, hydrogen and biogas are some of the fuels that can be prepared from algae through various processes such as transesterification, gasification, anaerobic treatment etc. In this Patent Tracker, SciTech provides an overview of the patents and published patent applications in the area of preparation of biofuels from algae based oils. Our patent search based on key words and class codes has identified the top patent filers, research/ academic institutes, independent inventors as well as possible research collaborations in this area. The period of study is from 2000 till date.		Top filers The patent landscape is crowded with many players holding few patents each. Some of the key players with patents on synthesis of biofuel from algae are Cargill Inc Live Fuels Inc Evolution Energy Production Inc General Atomics Genifuel Corp and Others...
Academic / Research Institutes There are several academic and research institutes researching in this field.		Focus of top filers find out more>>
Tsinghua University has four patent filings find out more>>		Most cited patents find out more>>
Research collaboration A patent filing (US20090068715A1) was generated out of collaboration between Lovion International Inc., Ogaki Bio. Technology Research Co.Ltd and Osaka Prefecture University, with their focus on the production of bioethanol.		Recent published literature find out more>>
Patent filing trends Research related to the production of biodiesel from algae has been in progress since 1999. There has been an exponential growth in patent filings since 2006 which indicates a tremendous flow of research funding in this area. A study of the patent filing trends indicates a significant increase in the research efforts in this area after 2002 and a steady increase thereafter. The patent activity reached its peak in the year 2007. Solix Biofuels Inc. has revived its interest in this area after a gap of several years. Livefuels Inc. and Evolution Energy Production Inc. are new entrants find out more >>
About SciTech SciTech Patent Art Services Private Limited is a technology firm offering patent services. SciTech offers search services for prior art, freedom to operate, validity etc. SciTech specializes in technology landscaping and competitive IP intelligence. The patent maps created by SciTech help clients in taking informed business decisions. Researchers, technologists, business managers, lawyers, venture capitalists and technology transfer offices use SciTech's services regularly. Upcoming patent trackers: Polymeric Floor Finishes
To know more about SciTech and offered services please write to info@patent-art.com
You can download the above slides here

@2009 SciTech Patent Art Services. All rights reserved.