“The purpose of this Inventors’ Handbook is to provide you with basic guidance on all the key stages of turning an invention into a commercial product. Or perhaps we should say the key stages of turning an idea into an enterprise, if we are to widen our definition of ‘invention’ to include novel processes, business methods, social interactions etc. Though invention has traditionally been associated with manufactured products, it is now better understood that new wealth has always been created primarily from new knowledge, or novel uses of existing knowledge.

Although this guide is published by the European Patent Office, its content goes well beyond issues of intellectual property (IP). While IP is undoubtedly essential to the successful exploitation of new ideas, it is only one of several important aspects of innovation.” 

From the introduction given in the handbook. 

For complete content please visit: epo.org