Sub Navigation
IP training website launched
7 March 2008
A new website with information
about intellectual property (IP) training and innovation was launched by the ip4inno
project team last week.
The ip4inno site, which is operated by the European Patent Office (EPO) in co-operation with 18 project partners, is aimed at small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and IP trainers.
It provides information about the economic environment in selected European countries, a searchable database of trainers and information about innovation support structures in various countries.
Later the website, www.ip4inno.eu, will also provide materials for trainers, who are themselves being trained in the course of the project. The hope is that by "training trainers" the project will be able to reach a wider audience in participating countries.
"The implementation of the ip4inno project by the EPO is complementing the role that the EPO already plays in the support to innovation in Europe," says EPO project co-ordinator Pascal Phlix. "Through projects that are implemented in co-operation with the national offices of the 34 Member States of the EPO, initiatives have been started to develop innovation in the regions, for example, by fostering technology transfer between public research centres and industry."
Last summer the European Patent Academy co-ordinated the creation of 12 three-hour teaching modules. In addition to explaining the basics of intellectual property rights, the modules cover patent information, commercialisation, enforcement and raising awareness about IP.
In January, the Academy organised the first of four two-day teaching events in Munich, presenting these modules to business advisors and technology transfer offices from across Europe. A second event took place in Berlin in February and events are planned in Vienna on 10/11 March and The Hague on 7/8 April.
Some of the other partner institutions, including the Hungarian Patent Office (HPO), have arranged their own training events, multiplying the number of educators who can provide training to SMEs.
"Education and promotion has been an important task for us from the beginning," says Andras Haszonits from the HPO. "Resources are limited at patent offices, thus decentralisation of information provision and promotion is crucial to increasing the use of IP."
Part of the European Commission's "PRO INNO Europe" initiative, ip4inno aims to further understanding of intellectual property among SMEs and increase their use of it, thereby promoting innovation and competitiveness in Europe, one of the goals of the Lisbon Agenda.
Further information
- International relations: ip4inno
- ip4inno website
- Patent-related events: ip4inno training in Vienna
- Patent-related events: ip4inno training in The Hague
- About us: The European Patent Academy