European IP Helpdesk & EEN Ambassadors Summer Training

Joining forces with the European Patent Office (EPO), European IP Helpdesk team has organised a two-day training session for the European IP Helpdesk Ambassadors, covering various aspects related to intellectual property (IP), including practical guidance on patent enforcement, the role of IP in sustainability and international business, and a comprehensive exploration of the new unitary patent system.

The team of Ambassadors participating in the training session consists of over 40 IP experts representing various organizations across 27 European countries. These experts come from diverse backgrounds, including chambers of commerce, innovation agencies, and tech transfer organizations. The Ambassadors, who are a part of the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN), play a crucial role in supporting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in their international endeavours by providing them with valuable resources, guidance, and networking opportunities.

On the first day of the training, the focus was primarily on initiatives led by the EPO such as High-growth technology business initiative, which aims to support and promote technology-driven businesses with high growth potential. PATLIB network was also presented, emphasizing its role in providing access to patent information and services across Europe. Several hot topics relating to IP such as benefits of unitary patents, IP enforcement, computer-implemented inventions, and the role of IP in sustainability and international business were also parts of the agenda on the first day. The focus shifted on the second day to internal discussions, the Ambassador scheme itself, and the services provided by the European IP Helpdesk.

The next training session for the Ambassadors will take place in Brussels in November.