KT2A core activities
- Training
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Once the partner university has received its Institutional Development Plan (IDP) and indicated the impact it expects to make on reaching its goals, the training activities will begin.
The training begins with two online presentations: "An introduction to the EPO" and one "The benefits of patent information" are both delivered by EPO experts.
All participants of the African universities are granted access to a dedicated self-paced learning path, divided into six distinct courses, and containing a wide range of training material spanning the full spectrum of intellectual property, from its fundamental principles to the utilisation of patent databases and search tools, and finally, to the business applications of intellectual property, including advanced search services. A second modular online course has been designed exclusively for the initiative (IP basics for innovators), with training modules based on real-life stories of inventors, their inventions and their experience of both the patenting and commercialisation process.
They both contain:
- Self-paced e-learning tools
- Video tutorials
- Recorded presentations and training courses
- Live training sessions.
- Quizzes
- Personalised certificate of achievement.
The two training areas are accessible on a 24/7 basis, allowing participants to commence training at a time that is convenient for them. The content of the training areas is aligned with the universities' strategic objectives and in helping them reach their goals.
In addition to the self-paced learning path and the modular course, live training sessions on specific topics are available, for example, searching chemical patent documentation and designing an IP strategy. These sessions are conducted in English, French and Portuguese upon request.
- Mentoring
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In addition to the training, participant universities benefit from the knowledge and experience of experts who have been working in the PATLIB network for many years. Mentors share their expertise and practical knowledge on intellectual property (IP) and technology transfer issues with the staff of participating universities.
Today, three PATLIB experts act as KT2A mentors. Each mentor supports a group of universities, divided by language: English, French and Portuguese.
- Mentor for Anglophone universities: Ms Sandra Ennas, PATLIB Pula (Sardegna Ricerche)
- Mentor for Francophone universities: Mr Philippe Borne, PATLIB Strasbourg (INPI Grand-Est)
- Mentor for Lusophone universities: Mr José Ricardo Aguilar, PATLIB Coimbra (Instituto Pedro Nunes)
- Twinning
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In the twinning phase, a PATLIB centre is matched with a participating university. The two partners share their experience and best practices. The PATLIB centre provides invaluable support to the university in consolidating and applying the knowledge gained through the initiative. It also helps the university to upgrade or create new IP-related services and activities, both within the university and for external stakeholders in their local ecosystems. Only universities that are advanced in IP and technology transfer start the twinning process. Therefore, while all universities in the initiative will participate in the training and mentoring activities, only some will enter a twinning partnership. In return, the twinned PATLIB centres not only gain insight into how African academic institutions operate, but also get to know the local African ecosystems. Creating cross-border networks between academic institutions and PATLIB centres provides increasing opportunities for business to encourage economic partnerships.
By August 2024, the initiative had formed ten twinning pairs. Each pair has selected a list of topics to work on in a collaborative manner. These topics include assistance with the implementation of an IP policy in the university, designing and providing IP training modules to students and researchers, creating the foundations of a TTO (Technology Transfer Office), and interacting with start-ups in their home countries and their ecosystems. The twinning partners decide on the main topics of the twinning, based on the universities' needs and the PATLIB centres' expertise.