From paper to patent

Joakim Frid

Who are you? Tell us about yourself and your role at Zenseact

My name is Joakim Frid, and I am the Intellectual Property Manager at Zenseact. My mission? To make sure great ideas don’t just stay ideas – but turn into protected innovations that help shape the development of autonomous driving. This is mainly through patents, but also through trade secrets or by choosing to publish them to prevent others from patenting the same ideas. 

I’ve spent over 20 years in the IP world – starting as a patent attorney, then building a startup offering IP services and software, and for the last 9 years, moving into industry roles. Before that, I was an engineer working on space technology and laser systems. So, I’ve gone from rockets and lasers to patents and innovation strategy. 

What does an innovation culture mean to you?

To me, an innovation culture is fundamentally about collaboration. The best ideas rarely happen in isolation. They spark when people challenge, inspire, and even compete with each other.  Our company values – trust, innovation, and collaboration – reflect this. Trust is especially important, as it creates a safe environment for exploring new ideas. An innovation culture thrives when people feel secure enough to take risks and share their thoughts. 

Why is it important for a company like Zenseact to have such a culture?

For a technology-driven company like Zenseact, innovation is not an option – it’s survival. There are both radical (disruptive) and incremental innovations, and both are important. Incremental innovation keeps us sharp every day, while disruptive ideas push boundaries.  But innovation also needs clear direction, so staying closely aligned with our company strategy ensures our ideas create impact.

How do you contribute to fostering an innovation culture? Can you share specific examples of your or your team’s work?

We foster innovation by being approachable and encouraging open idea sharing. People can pitch and discuss ideas without pressure. We connect colleagues working on similar challenges, break silos, and share what’s happening inside and outside Zenseact on innovations, to spark inspiration.

Recognition is another key aspect. For four years, we have celebrated inventors through the Inventor Award, honoring:

• Jury’s Choice – Leadership’s pick for outstanding innovation that matters
• Thinking Outside the Box – Radical, game-changing idea
• Contributor of the Year – The ones with the most invention disclosures submitted

This recognition is highly appreciated and shows that innovation matters here.

Regarding patents, we select inventions we believe are strategically important to protect. While we aim to stay open as a company, we must also control and protect what makes us unique. Our outside counsels handle the drafting of patent applications, but we facilitate the process and support inventors. Experienced colleagues mentor newcomers, making the process collaborative and less intimidating. Unlike many companies where inventors work solo, I feel our culture is much more open and supportive. 

How has Zenseact’s innovation culture evolved in recent years?

The number of ideas submitted grows every year, even without major headcount increases. I think the development is due to strong innovation ambassadors and improved IP awareness. Five years ago, I sensed greater resistance to IP protection and a preference for a more “open source-like” culture. 

Today, we’ve found the right balance: protecting what matters most while staying transparent and collaborative for the rest. More people are now willing to contribute to the invention pipeline, and that makes us better at securing our future without losing openness.