Podcast: Patent harvesting – build IP awareness and reap the fruits of innovation

Managing IP is part of Legal Benchmarking Limited, 4 Bouverie Street, London, EC4Y 8AX

Copyright © Legal Benchmarking Limited and its affiliated companies 2025

Accessibility | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Modern Slavery Statement

Podcast: Patent harvesting – build IP awareness and reap the fruits of innovation

Sponsored by

Zacco_360 IP_RGB.jpg
zacco podcast artwork v3.png

Tomas Wässingbo of Zacco and Gunilla Larsson of Tetra Pak explain how patent harvesting can help in developing a corporate culture of IP awareness

It is all too easy for the recognition and protection of potentially valuable ideas to fall down the list of priorities as organisational departments focus on delivery under pressure. Patent harvesting is a solution.

This podcast focuses on how to develop an internal awareness of intellectual property (IP) and the importance of setting aside time to recognise and capture ideas as they happen. The purpose of patent harvesting is to sift through these innovations, to identify which might be possible to protect and explore which might hold commercial value.

The process harnesses the power and creative thought of an organisation’s R&D team and other areas of the business. The results are not just restricted to patents, however, as the benefit of using cross-functional teams means that ideas for advancing business innovation or development can arise as by-products.

The podcast also explores the role of patent attorneys in the future and how it will be affected as AI reshapes the patent landscape.

Tomas Wassingbo and Gunilla Larsson.jpg

Tomas Wässingbo, a partner at Zacco responsible for the development of the innovation assets area, and Gunilla Larsson, IP director in automation and digital at Tetra Pak, addressed the following questions in a discussion with Managing IP's commercial editor, Phil Myers:

  • What are the benefits of involving people from different disciplines?

  • Is the approach applicable to organisations of all sizes and natures?

  • How has the patent harvesting process been received by participants?

  • How are Zacco’s Forward Patenting workshops run and who should be involved?

  • What will be the primary considerations for patent attorneys in the future?

An active approach to harvesting inventions can form an important part of the IP development and capture process, and contribute to decision making.

Listen to the podcast to learn more about how patent harvesting sessions set the “innovative locomotive” in motion.

About Zacco

Zacco, part of OpSec, is a true European full-service IP firm with a 360-degree approach to intellectual property. Zacco has the expertise, knowledge and insight to assist with the development, maintenance and enforcement of IP rights across all current and emerging fields of technology, as well as physical or digital branding, e-commerce, IP transactions, and IP due diligence.

The following Zacco podcasts, from 2022, are also available:

You can find all the Managing IP podcasts here.

more from across site and SHARED ros bottom lb

More from across our site

David Aylen, who spent more than 20 years at Gowling WLG, has joined United Trademark and Patent Services as of counsel in the UAE
Europe is among the most lucrative legal markets for PE firms to bet on, but clients’ reactions will decide whether external investment drives success
Rulings of note covered pre-June 2023 infringements and jurisdiction over non-UPC states, while winners of Managing IP’s EMEA Awards acted in multiple cases
Jason Blair, a former special marks examiner, said Dykema’s Texas presence will help him build deeper connections with clients
Lee Curtis and Rachel Platts at HGF discuss the rise of the ‘intention economy’ and its impact on trademark law
Martin Wintermeier discusses taking a hit for clients, not letting stress get to you, and why being a criminal defence lawyer might have been fun
Exclusive data and analysis reveal why clients feel external legal teams aren’t providing business-centric advice
The head of the soft IP team at engineering group Sandvik, winner of the in-house team of the year award, reveals why a flurry of M&A activity led to a busy 2024
Lawyers at Herbert Smith Freehills outline what rights owners should be doing ahead of sweeping changes to EU design law
Deals between five more law firms and President Trump and an antitrust lawsuit against Amgen were also among the top talking points this week
Gift this article