ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the patent ecosystem and the need to access capital to acquire and exploit patents as corporate assets. It explores the strategic commercial reasons for patenting inventions. The chapter introduces the Political, Economic, Social, Technological and Legal analysis to give an overview of the external macro-environment factors that collectively impact companies. It examines the political factors affecting UK patent policy. The chapter presents economic factors that affect access to debt finance, especially for early stage innovating Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises. It explores a behavioural finance approach to critically analyse the social factors influencing access to finance. Measures to enhance the interface between corporate Intellectual Property owners and equity and debt financiers from a corporate governance perspective. The chapter considers emerging technologies, patent backlogs, Horizon 2020: the European Union International Strategy for Research and Innovation and finally, Technology Readiness Levels as a tool for corporate reporting.
