REPORT on the BioBase4SME TRAINING on Intellectual Property Strategy
Date: 30/06/17
Location: Brightlands Chemelot Campus, Urmonderbaan 22 (gate 2) - 6167 RD Sittard-Geleen, The Netherlands
Within the framework of the BioBase4SME project, 3 partners, CLIB2021, Flanders Biobased Valley and REWIN West-Brabant, joined forces to organize a training on intellectual property. The training was designed to give insight in all the basics of intellectual property, the difference between patents, copyright and trademarks, on how to create your own IP strategy and how to handle IP in project consortia, all with a focus on industrial biotechnology and the biobased economy.
The training was attended by 12 companies from Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium, of which 8 SME’s, and was rated as very good! Teacher for the occasion was Michael Barth, a German and European patent attorney, active in the protection of intellectual property right since 2006. He was challenged by the participants with many questions and comments, making the training very interactive. People went home with new inspiration, new knowledge on IP and many ideas to be put in practice.
Many companies also mentioned that they made relevant contacts with other companies, not only from their own region but also from the other regions. Contacts ranging from exchange of information, to collaboration opportunities or even business opportunities. Some of the SMEs expressed interest in the coupon system of the BioBase4SME project and confirmed that they might envision a coupon application in the future.