Patent Office launches innovation support consultation

In a consultation launched today (290Kb), the Patent Office is inviting comments on a strategy which sets out how it proposes supporting innovation.

The Department of Trade and Industry DTI), in its Innovation Report, acknowledged the important role The Patent Office can play in promoting innovation. The Office has made considerable progress in supporting innovation and wishes to build on its achievements by exploring new ways in which to use its wealth of knowledge, expertise and resources to contribute to the Government's innovation agenda beyond its core statutory and policy functions. To deploy its assets efficiently and effectively, the Office has prepared a draft strategy. The strategy sets out the Office’s vision and role in supporting innovation and includes an extensive list of proposed support activities some of which will involve working in partnership with other organisations.

The Office is keen to seek the views of all stakeholders to ensure that its proposals support, complement and add value to existing innovation support activities and are appropriate for the Office to pursue. The Office is also seeking views on which of the activities it has identified should be given priority and whether there are others that should be included in the strategy. Once the consultation (290Kb) has been completed the Office will revise and prioritise the proposed innovation support activities in light of comments received and will plan an implementation programme for the prioritised elements of the strategy.

The closing date for comments is 21 August 2006. Responses should be sent to:

Sally Vaughan
The Patent Office
Room 2R45
Concept House
Cardiff Road
Newport NP10 8QQ

Tel:  +44 (0)1633 814543
Fax: +44 (0)1633 811020

Date of release: 19 May 2006