Technology Transfer: linking the academy with the industry

The Mexican Institute of Industrial Property (IMPI) notes in its webpage the importance of the relationship between academia and the industry for the opportunity to market the research conducted in the country. Promoting this occurrence then, during the 1st March until the 10th March took place the 3rd edition of Academy training Transfer and Commercialization of Technology for the Americas aiming “to develop human resources for high-performance transfer activities and commercialization of technologies, especially in the areas of intellectual property, technology assessment, business plan, business models of technology, commercialization of technologies, among other topics.”

The event was seen as a great opportunity to exchange information among the participants. IMPI’s Director General observed that approx. 52% of Mexican patent applications are made by research centers and universities, acknowledging the importance of strengthening the links among the administrative offices granting patents and the industry as well as understanding the needs of the industry. The Director also noted that in Mexico, “innovation policies are associated as instruments of public policy and play a key role in promoting Mexican creativity,” and thus, noting the relevance of the IP system.

Mexico is a member of the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) known as international patent. There are more than 20 Latin American countries that are members of the PCT allowing members to pursue patent protection for an invention simultaneously in a number of countries by filing a single international patent application, However, note that the granting of patents remains under the control of the national IPO (called the ‘national phase’). IMPI is the only Latin America office which has signed an agreement with the European Patent Office taking advantage of a fast-track examination procedures in the national phase i.e. Patent Prosecution Highway. As of May 25, 2010, the USPTO has eliminated the fee for the petition to make special under the PPH programs. Also there is a PPH pilot program between the USPTO and the IMPI that commenced on July 1, 2015, and will run for a period of one year ending on June 30, 2016 (more info here).

Shh! Do not disturb! Academics working

In its fourth year, the Academic Meeting of Intellectual Property (ENAPID), to be held 14-16 September in Rio de Janeiro, will be running under the title "Economy and Technology Development." INPI informs that they are around 450 participants from all regions of the country and a growing volume of submissions, and so the meeting has extended to academic reflections on intellectual property and its economic and social implications.

The meeting will have two sessions going on simultaneously presenting ten papers per each session. The number of panels, reached 39 this year, covering four distinct themed areas. Moreover, this year a new space has been introduced for the Directors of the INPI that will discuss technical aspects and actions that supports the development of intellectual property and innovation in the country.

The palestra magna will be given by Professor Manuel Becerra from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). Also there are three roundtables which will discuss intellectual property in relation to Brazilian companies; international training; and contribution to local development.

INPI notifies that in addition to universities, research centres and the academic community, participation includes public and private companies, national and international intellectual property experts and funding institutions [ooh! It sounds like a goody bag to me].

CERLALC: Base de datos de legislación y jurisprudencia

Con esta entrada, en IP Tango queremos llamar la atención sobre el encomiable trabajo que Ricardo Antequera Parilli y el resto de miembros de CERLALC (Centro Regional para el Fomento del Libro en América Latina y el Caribe) están haciendo, con el apoyo de UNESCO, con su base de datos de legislación nacional, instrumentos internacionales y jurisprudencia.

La parte de legislación incluye vínculos a todas las leyes de los países iberoamericanos (incluyendo España y Portugal). Pero lo más interesante es la selección de sentencias que alberga, las cuales no se limitan a Iberoamérica sino que también recoge decisiones de países como Francia, Reino Unido o Alemania traducidas al castellano. En muchos casos dichas sentencias vienen acompañadas de comentarios elaborados por expertos en la materia.

Un trabajo encomiable de muchisima utilidad para académicos y profesionales del Derecho de la propiedad intelectual. Aquellas personas interesadas en colaborar en el proyecto pueden escribir a Aurelio (aurelio (at) ua.es) que les pondrá en contacto con los responsables del mismo.