Abstract
Technology-related intangible assets are considered, with emphasis being placed on the 4 main evaluation methods, i.e. the cost, market, income, and real option method. A concise overview of those methods is provided, with their strengths and weaknesses being contrasted. This lays the foundations of a case study about the financial evaluation of a patent. Resort is made to the income approach only, suitably expanded by performing a sensitivity analysis. As few forecasts prove critical, a range of feasible values can be obtained for the net present value of the patent. In other words, the usual outcome of the evaluation process is reached without using and reconciling one another different evaluation methods.