Purpose - This paper’s aim is to analyze the technological information in patent databanks as a strategy in prospecting for new technologies.
Research design, data, and methodology - We detail the major free electronic database sources for patent information, the patent documents, the patent document structures, INID codes (Internationally Agreed Numbers for the Identification of Data), indexation, references, and classification notions. Additionally, we review and analyze information on the activities of the Center of Dissemination Documentation and Technological Information (CEDIN) from the National Institute of Intellectual Property (INPI) of Brazil for the period 2000 to 2011.
Results - The research shows that the technological information contained in the patents could provide a wide range of functionality within companies and universities.
Conclusions - In recent years, (CEDIN), a specialist in intellectual property, has been serving internal and external users by providing guidance on the basis of patents and other literature, but the number of users served is still small. In order to familiarize more potential users of such technological information, task forces should be created among INPI, universities, and companies.

1. Introduction
 2. Technological Information
  2.1. Publication of the Patent Document
  2.2. Structure of the Patent Document
  2.3. Number indication
  2.4. Date Indication
  2.5. Identification of origin/property
  2.6. Technical information
  2.7. Status Codes of patents
  2.8. International Patents Classification
  2.9. Searches in the major Free Patent Databases
  2.10. European PatentOffice – EPO
  2.11. United States Patent and Trademark Office's –USPTO
 3. Methodology
 4. Results Analysis
 5. Conclusion
 References

• Luan Carlos Santos Silva(PhD in Industrial Engineering, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil) Corresponding Author
• Carla Schwengber ten Caten(Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil)
• Silvia Gaia(Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil)
• Renata Tilemann Facó(Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil)
• Lidiana Zocche(Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil)
• Rosana Travessini(Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil)