Patent-related tools and methodology for use in research and development projects

A system for facilitating stages of research and development project comprising:

• an input device configured to receive information from a user;
• a processor configured to perform a search on a database based on the received information;
• a storage device configured to store results of the search;
• a controller configured to generate control signals based on the received information;
• a comparator configured to compare stored information and the control signals to determine a set of the stored information correlating with the control signals;
• and
• a plurality of tools in a tool box, each of the tools configured to formulate a corresponding type of output from the set of stored information, whereby the output is displayed on a display device.

A method for research and development, comprising:

• generating a topographic map to identify existing and non-existing technologies;
• identifying a new technology area for research and development using the topographic map;
• and
• assessing one of the identified existing technologies for possible implementation in the new technology area.

A computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code embodied in said medium for manipulating information on a database, said computer readable program code comprising:

• a first computer readable program code for receiving from a user a search input, wherein the first computer readable program code comprises:
• a second computer readable program code for receiving and storing results of the search;
• and
• a third computer readable program code for accessing a tool box comprising a plurality of tools, wherein each of the tools is associated with one or more tasks of the sequential stages of the research and development project, and each of the tools is configured to perform a respective task using information from the search results stored in the database.