One of the possible disadvantages of using an industrial expert rather than a well-known academic professor is that the academic can more easily be seen to be expert, with an extensive publication record and a focus on research, teaching and education. However, many independent industrial consultants are involved as advisors on R&D, particularly process R&D, with major industrial multinationals, or more heavily involved with emerging biotechnology companies that rely more and more on ‘outsourced’ expertise as their products move from the discovery phase into larger scale, where scale-up and manufacture (in which those emerging companies have little experience) becomes increasingly important.

These are often key issues in process patents, which are increasingly being challenged in the courts. Industrial experts are more familiar with the ‘process’ of obtaining patents and the background work that goes into the experimentation necessary to provide substance to the claims. Many consultants, such as myself, are also visiting professors at universities, teaching courses there. They also avidly read the literature and keep up to date with current developments both in academia and industry.