Advanced mechanical & systems engineering

Innovation in robotics, automation, and advanced manufacturing is accelerating, driven by AI, digitalisation, and global economic shifts. As systems become smarter and more integrated, protecting intellectual property across hardware and software is more complex and important than ever.

At HGF, we help clients navigate these challenges with commercially-focused IP strategies that keep pace with the speed of change in the sector. The rapid development of control systems is transforming automation, but success still relies on robust hardware platforms, precision sensing, and reliable performance. Our cross-disciplinary team can ensure innovations in both control and mechanical systems are fully protected, individually and in combination.

By taking a holistic and multidisciplinary approach, our mechanical engineering, electronics and software patent specialists work seamlessly together to secure broad and defensible protection for our clients. We support clients in identifying valuable innovation and the best way to protect it, ensuring that our clients capture technical value without ambiguity or unnecessary overlap.

By embedding IP strategy early in the development lifecycle, we help businesses protect their competitive edge while staying flexible for future innovation.

Latest updates

Event - 7th - 10th October 2026

HGF Attending AIPPI World Congress 2026

HGF is attending the AIPPI World Congress 2026, taking place in Hamburg from 7-10 October 2026. Bringing together intellectual property professionals from around the world, the annual Congress is one …

Event details

Can foreign manufacturers escape the long arm of the UPC’s jurisdiction?

In the three years since it became operational, the UPC has established itself as a leading forum for pan-European patent litigation, with a number of decisions raising important questions regarding …

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Materials at the Final Frontier: How Engineering Innovations Are Powering the Future of Space

The Hidden Drivers of the Space Economy Space may be the ultimate testing ground for technology, but its success depends on what we build with, not just what we build. …

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Sustainable Technologies in Space: Protecting Innovation for a Greener Frontier

The modern space race is not just about reaching farther. Although it’s exciting to think that one day we might have holidays on other planets, space travel and exploration in …

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Patents Beyond Earth: Do we need a Martian Patent Office? Part 2

As of 2026, our patent offices are all Earth-based, and there is no comprehensive or harmonised framework for patent rights covering outer space as a region. However, there are a …

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Patents Beyond Earth: Is Space a No Man's Land? Part 1

It is well established that the patent system is territorial in nature. If you have an invention you wish to patent, at some point, you are going to have to …

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HGF energy and IP

Fuelling IP: Nuclear Fusion Patents – Is 20 Years Enough?

A patent is often described as providing 20 years of exclusivity. For technologies that take many years to develop, test, license and bring to market, the period of commercially meaningful …

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Miniaturisation and Patentability: Why Scaling Down a Product Is Not Enough to Qualify as a Patentable Invention

Miniaturisation has become a defining trend in modern engineering. From consumer electronics to medical devices, companies constantly strive to make products smaller, lighter, and more portable. This evolution is often …

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Let's talk

If you would like to discuss how HGF could help you, contact one of our advanced mechanical & systems engineering specialists.