Strategic use of patent information: Constructing and utilizing the Strategic Database in Asahikasei Corporation.

Technical Information Center, Corporate Intellectual Property, Asahikasei Corporation is established in 1998 as a result of integration of research function separately operated in several sections. The Center's primal missions are to provide the high-quality information for research, and to contribute in research education. Constructing and utilizing the Strategic DataBase (SOB), recognized as the basis both for planning patent strategy and taking advantage of intellectual property right, are continually pursued by the Center. This article briefly reports the process of its construction and dissemination in three stages: infrastructure development, active promotion and establishment in company culture. The detail of SDB and its successful results are described; furthermore, action plans, challenges and solutions in each three stages are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]