Abstract
This report describes the results of an analysis tracing the technological influence of Marine and
Hydrokinetic (MHK) research funded by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)’s Water Power
Technologies Office (WPTO) and its precursor programs, as well as MHK research funded by
other offices in DOE. The tracing is carried out both backwards and forwards in time, and
focuses on patents filed in three systems: the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office (U.S. patents); the
European Patent Office (EPO patents); and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO
patents). The primary period covered in this analysis is 1976 to 2018.
The main purpose of the backward tracing is to determine the extent to which WPTO-funded
MHK research has formed a foundation for innovations patented by leading MHK organizations.
Meanwhile, the primary purpose of the forward tracing is to examine the broader influence of
WPTO-funded MHK research upon subsequent technological developments, both within and
outside MHK technology. In addition to these WPTO-based analyses, we also extend many
elements of the analysis to other DOE-funded MHK patents, in order to gain insights into their
influence.