Master’s Thesis work

We’re looking for two master’s students in engineering who want to explore the intersection of technology, business and law. Do you and a fellow student want to work together as a team on a topic? Are you looking for a company to work with on your master’s thesis in the spring semester of 2027? Look no further.

Kapea is an IP strategy firm founded in 2009. We help companies turn technology and other intangible assets into business value. Our clients have included more than 30 Nordic companies, from Fortune 500 groups in telecom, medtech, and engineering to start-ups and investors. Our experience comes from leading IP in global industrial groups, patent law firms and the European Patent Office.

What can you expect as a master’s thesis student at Kapea? A paid thesis position, a steep learning curve, close supervision from experienced IP strategists and master’s thesis supervisors, as well as access to an AI-based patent analysis platform. Based in Stockholm, with flexibility for remote work.

Topic: The NPE arms race, with AI on both sides of patent assertion

Non-practising entities (NPEs) make money from patents by asserting them, not by using them in products. AI is changing the economics on both sides. It is becoming cheaper for NPEs to find targets and build infringement cases. At the same time, it is becoming cheaper for the companies they target to find prior art that invalidates those patents. This thesis looks at what that means for patent assertion markets and for how companies defend themselves.

Suggested areas of exploration:

• How does AI change the cost and scale of finding infringement targets, and of finding invalidating prior art?
• Who gains the advantage when both sides automate, and what does that do to the market for patent assertion?
• How should an operating company adapt its defence strategy, its portfolio and its IP governance?

You will form your own research questions within this area together with your academic supervisor. The thesis has two deliverables. The first is a published academic report. The second is an internal report, e.g. applying your findings to a case company, covering its exposure to NPEs and a defence playbook. The internal report will not be published.

Expectations

We believe this topic is ideal for two M.Sc students. In addition to a background in technology and business, you are familiar with how intellectual property, especially patents, creates competitive advantage. You have an interest in markets for technology, licensing and patent assertion and you would like to explore how AI tools work in practice, and learn a patent analysis platform hands-on. 

We look forward to your application!

Please apply together as a team of two. Include a CV for each of you and a short joint description of how you would approach this thesis topic. Send your application to katarina.wendin@kapea.se by 31 October 2026. We review applications continuously.