You are here:  MINES-ALBI >  Partenaire des...ses >  Travaux des él...ses >  Etudes de brev...dés

Study of Patents, Markets and Processes

Study of Patents, Markets and Processes

As part of their training, student engineers are required to undertake documentary research.

This is an exercise in technology monitoring that helps students to gain in-depth knowledge of patents, developing markets and innovative processes.

At the end of the study period, students write a report that they present orally during an open public session.

Suggest a topic for documentary research


You can send your suggestions to the School by:

  • email: send your proposal as an attachment to: sablayrolles@enstimac.fr

  •  fax for the attention of Claudine Sablayrolles on +33 (0)5 63 49 30 90


Topics may be suggested during September, October and November. Suggestions will be fed into the database consulted by all students.

Contact:   
Claudine Sablayrolles
Tel.: +33 (0)5.63.49.30.29; Fax: +33 (0)5 63 49 30 90
Email: sablayrolles@enstimac.fr

These studies can be consulted on request to the Schools Documentation Service.

Contact:   
Dolorès Liret
Tel.: +33 (0)5.63.49.30.47, Fax: +33 (0)5 63 49 30 90
Email: dolores.liret@enstimac.fr

A Few Examples of Topics Studied by Students


Patents: using patents to study a technology and identify the most recent technological innovations:

  • enhanced performance of sail boat hulls thanks to manufacture using composite materials

  • supercritical tablet encapsulation: a non-polluting process for use with small-size active principles

  • the form, structure and materials for an adhesive bandage to ensure sterility and ease of use


Markets: study of the market for an industrial or consumer product (product characteristics, organisation of production, key sector economic data, distribution, organisation of information):

  • frozen microwave dishes in France: a market growing 13% by value, dominated by 2 suppliers

  • anti-cholesterol margarines on the French market: the startling success of a so-called nutraceutical backed by an effective media campaign

  • the European market for photovoltaic cells: 2002 growth was 39%, thanks to political backing


Process: study of a complex industrial process from several different perspectives (scientific, technical, economic, commercial):

  • 4 axis high-speed machining of an aluminium part for the Airbus A320: speed and accuracy for complex shapes

  • polycarbonate disc injection process for the manufacture of corrective ophthalmic lenses

  • supercritical CO2 extraction of pink peppercorn oil: a clean process that requires further work to perfect