Skip to Main Content

Market Reports and Patentability Research Course Guide for Engineers

Course Guide for Pratt School of Engineering & The Nicholas School for the Environment students

Science & Engineering Librarian

Profile Photo
Deric Hardy
He/Him

Contact:
Perkins 233
Email me: deric.hardy@duke.edu
Call me: 919-660-5928
Market Reports and Research for Engineering

Note. This image was generated using the prompt “Duke engineering and environmental students in patent class with whiteboard” with the AI tool Microsoft Designer".

Locating Market Research Reports

Finding "Market Research Reports” refers to the process of locating and accessing documents that contain detailed information and analysis about specific markets or industries. These reports typically include data on market size, trends, consumer behavior, 

What are Market Reports and Market Research?

Four Key Roles of Market Reports

  1. Strategic Business Insight
    Market reports help businesses understand their industry, target market, and competition—essential for product development, marketing, and investment decisions.

  2. Data-Driven Decision Making
    They provide valuable data on market size, trends, consumer behavior, competitive landscape, and forecasts, supporting both commercial and policy strategies.

  3. Understanding Consumer Psychology
    Market research reveals what consumers want, need, believe, and how they behave—critical for tailoring offerings and messaging.

  4. Supporting Patentability and Innovation
    These reports justify the commercial value, novelty, and non-obviousness of inventions, making them powerful tools in patent strategy and innovation pitches.


Why Market Research is Important for Engineering

  1. Technology Landscape Mapping
    Market reports reveal existing engineering solutions, helping inventors identify gaps and avoid duplicating known technologies—critical for proving novelty.

  2. Commercial Relevance of Innovations
    They show demand for specific engineering applications (e.g., sustainable materials, automation), supporting the economic value of a patent.

  3. Competitive Benchmarking
    Reports highlight key players and patented technologies, guiding inventors to differentiate their solutions and strengthen non-obviousness claims.

  4. Regulatory & Standards Awareness
    Engineering-focused reports often include updates on industry standards and regulations, which influence patent scope and design choices.

Keywords: brand, companyconsumer behaviormarket reports, market research, market trends, product name, startup, swot analysis