How FTO Checker finds scientific publications for patent analysis
FTO Checker uses OpenAlex, the world's most advanced open academic search engine, to cross-reference your invention against 240+ million research papers.
Unlike traditional patent searches that miss the academic foundation of innovations, we identify research trends 12-24 months before they become patents — giving you unprecedented foresight into your IP landscape.
Why academic research matters for patent landscapes
Most FTO searches focus exclusively on existing patents—but that's looking in the rearview mirror. Real innovation happens first in academic research, then gets patented 12-24 months later.
By analyzing academic publications alongside patents, FTO Checker reveals:
- Leading indicators: Emerging technologies before they're patented
- White space opportunities: Research areas with high publication velocity but low patent coverage
- Technology maturity: Whether your field is still in research phase or ready for commercialization
- Key researchers: Academic-to-industry talent pipelines and expertise networks
OpenAlex: the gold standard for academic intelligence
OpenAlex is not just a search engine — it's an open-source research intelligence platform that understands the meaning and impact of scientific papers.
What makes OpenAlex different
| Feature | Why it matters for patents |
|---|---|
| 📚 240M+ research papers | Comprehensive coverage across all academic fields including computer science, biomedical sciences, chemistry, materials science, and engineering—the fields where most patents originate. |
| 🎯 Concept-based search | OpenAlex automatically tags papers with thousands of concepts and topics, enabling semantic search that finds relevant research even when different terminology is used—critical for thorough prior art searches. |
| 📈 Citation velocity tracking | Identifies papers with accelerating citation rates—early signals of emerging hot topics that will drive future patent activity and competitive innovation. |
| 👥 Author networks and institutional data | Discover key researchers, their expertise areas, institutional affiliations, and collaboration networks—critical for understanding who's driving innovation and potential licensing opportunities. |
| 🔗 Patent-paper linkage | Many patents cite academic papers. OpenAlex helps trace the research foundation of patent claims, revealing the scientific validity of IP positions and identifying prior art. |
| 🆓 100% open and free | Fully open-source data with free API access ensures deep research intelligence without subscription costs—keeping FTO analysis accessible, comprehensive, and transparent. |
What we analyze in scientific literature
For every patent landscape search, we extract and synthesize:
| Analysis Type | What We Find | Strategic Value |
|---|---|---|
| Publication trends | Volume and timing of papers by topic over time | Identify when a field shifted from exploration to maturation |
| Citation impact | Which papers are most influential by citation count & context | Understand foundational vs. incremental innovations |
| Citation velocity | Papers with accelerating citation rates (hot topics) | Detect emerging areas 12-24 months before patent surge |
| Author networks | Key researchers, H-indexes, institutional affiliations | Identify expertise clusters and talent pipelines |
| Research-to-patent | Papers cited by patents in your landscape | Trace scientific foundation of IP claims |
| White space detection | High publication velocity + low patent coverage | Find innovation opportunities with less competition |
Research coverage across major fields
OpenAlex's 240M+ paper corpus includes comprehensive coverage of patent-relevant fields:
🖥️ Computer Science & AI
Machine learning, computer vision, NLP, robotics, edge computing, distributed systems
Key sources: ArXiv, ACM, IEEE, AAAI, NeurIPS, ICML
🧬 Biomedical & Life Sciences
Drug discovery, genomics, medical devices, diagnostics, synthetic biology, biotechnology
Key sources: PubMed, bioRxiv, Nature, Cell Press, NEJM, The Lancet
⚗️ Chemistry & Materials
Organic synthesis, catalysis, polymers, nanomaterials, energy storage, semiconductors
Key sources: ACS, RSC, Nature Chemistry, Advanced Materials
⚙️ Engineering & Physics
Mechanical systems, electronics, optics, energy, manufacturing, aerospace
Key sources: IEEE, SPIE, AIP, IOP Science, ASME