Europe's patent information centres meet in Sofia

26. Mai 2009

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Europe's patent information libraries, its so-called PATLIB centres, reported a noticeable reduction in demand for their patent information products and services at the PATLIB2009 conference in Sofia, Bulgaria on 20-22 May. Speakers told the conference that companies are concentrating on their core activities in the current economic climate.

With this in mind, this year's theme "building on best practices" took on a new importance, providing an opportunity for delegates to discuss with counterparts from across the continent. With much emphasis this year on the current economic situation and on careful use of available budgets, delegates were keen to return home with specific gains from their attendance at the event.

Blazej Feret, from the PATLIB centre in Łódź, Poland presented the results of a survey he had conducted among PATLIB centres. He concluded that the key to survival is finding the right mix of products and services that appeal to small and medium-sized enterprises.

Presenting the user perspective, Frédéric Caillaud from L'Oréal said that his company is trying to use patent information as a basis for business decisions. He said industry needs better tools to analyse and map patents in particular.

The importance of the business perspective was also underlined by academic institutions, who reported that intellectual property is now being taught in business as well as law faculties. The universities also noted that IP is being taken more seriously generally, with more specialist courses on offer and increasing awareness about how to use IP resulting from academic research.

Organised in co-operation with the Patent Office of the Republic of Bulgaria, over 200 participants from 26 member states plus Russia and Korea attended the event. Next year's conference, PATLIB2010, will take place in Dresden, Germany on 12-14 May.

Further information

• EPO events: PATLIB2009
• Patent information: Patent information centres