Towards a methodological framework for patent-based technological prospecting in the mineral sector: a systematic literature review

Technological prospecting has become increasingly relevant for the mineral sector due to growing pressures related to sustainability, operational efficiency and the global energy transition. In this context, patent analysis constitutes an important source of technological intelligence for monitoring innovation trajectories and supporting strategic decision-making. However, the literature reveals substantial methodological fragmentation regarding search strategies, data treatment and analytical transparency in patent landscaping studies applied to mining and metallurgy. This study aims to identify and systematise the principal methodological practices employed in patent-based technological prospecting studies in the mineral sector and to propose a structured methodological framework. A systematic literature review inspired by PRISMA guidelines was conducted using the Web of Science and Scopus databases. After screening and snowballing procedures, eight studies were selected for in-depth analysis. The results revealed heterogeneous methodological approaches, with emphasis on hybrid search strategies, integration between patent and scientific databases, expert validation and advanced analytical techniques such as clustering, TRIZ, PCA and artificial intelligence-assisted foresight. Based on these findings, a five-phase methodological framework was developed to improve transparency, replicability and analytical consistency in mineral-sector patent landscaping studies. The proposed framework contributes to technological intelligence, innovation management and technology transfer practices within mining and metallurgy.