Visual Intellectual Property Search
Stored: Visual Intellectual Property Search
| Type | Program |
|---|---|
| Sponsor Organization | Office of Technology Transitions |
| Top Organization | Department of Energy |
| Creation Legislation | Department of Energy Organization Act of 1977 |
| Website | Website |
| Purpose | Visual Intellectual Property Search offers a searchable DOE patent and software database, aiding tech transfer for innovation and entrepreneurship. |
| Program Start | July 31, 2024 |
| Initial Funding | Not publicly specified; part of OTT budget |
| Duration | Ongoing |
| Historic | No |
Visual Intellectual Property Search (VIPS) is a digital platform developed by the Office of Technology Transitions (OTT) within the Department of Energy, in collaboration with Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), to centralize and streamline access to DOE-funded intellectual property.
Visual Intellectual Property Search provides a comprehensive, searchable database of patents and software from Department of Energy-funded research, facilitating technology transfer to the private sector, while aiming to enhance accessibility and visualization of DOE intellectual property to support innovation, entrepreneurship, and commercialization.
Notable features include its advanced AI-driven search capabilities, a taxonomy of approximately 800 technology categories, and a collection exceeding 14,000 patents and 6,200 software packages as of 2025, sourced from DOE’s 17 national laboratories and additional sites.
Goals
- Streamline discovery of DOE-funded patents and software for prospective users and licensees.
- Accelerate commercialization by providing visual analytics and detailed filtering, targeting tech scouts and entrepreneurs.
- Document and curate DOE technologies to enhance their real-world impact across energy and science sectors.
Organization
Visual Intellectual Property Search is overseen by the Office of Technology Transitions (OTT), part of the Department of Energy, with technical development led by PNNL’s Human Centered Computing Group.
OTT manages policy and funding, while PNNL handles data integration, AI modeling, and platform maintenance, sourcing content from USPTO patents and OSTI’s DOE CODE repository. Funding is drawn from OTT’s budget, including the Base Annual Appropriated Technology Commercialization Fund.
The program’s leader is the Director of OTT, currently Jennifer Granholm’s designee as of 2025.
History
VIPS was launched on July 31, 2024, building on prior DOE efforts like the Visual Patent Search portal, spurred by OTT’s mission under the Department of Energy Organization Act of 1977 to advance technology transfer. It evolved from fragmented IP records into a unified platform with enhanced search and visualization, developed by PNNL with Tradespace’s taxonomy expertise. Key milestones include its debut with over 20,000 IP items and plans to expand content and refine AI features for broader usability.
Funding
Initial funding for VIPS, though not publicly itemized, was allocated within OTT’s budget, supported by DOE appropriations and launched on July 31, 2024. Ongoing financing continues through OTT’s annual budget, with no end date, estimated in the millions for technology commercialization efforts. Additional resources from PNNL’s development funding bolster its growth.
Implementation
VIPS operates by aggregating patents from the USPTO and software from DOE CODE, processed with AI and natural language models for categorization and visualization. Launched fully on July 31, 2024, it updates continuously as new IP is added from DOE labs and sites, with no defined end date, serving as a permanent tool for technology discovery.
Related
External links
- https://vips.pnnl.gov
- https://www.energy.gov/technologytransitions/office-technology-transitions
- wikipedia:Pacific Northwest National Laboratory