1. 1 The EPO Co-operation Programme to reorient patent information centres Heidrun Krestel European Affairs, Member States 4 October 2010

2. 2 The European PATLIB network - 38 member states 340 centres (including information units of national patent offices) IS 3 NO 1 SE 1 AT 8 FR 28 DE 25 PL 27 ES 25 PT 25 SM 1 IT 61 FI 16 EE 2 GR 4 CH 1 CZ 11 TR 20 AL 1 HR 1 HU 4 RO 17 MK 1 BG 6 SI 3 SK 5 DK 1 GB 14 IE 1 LV 2 LT 5 NL 1 BE 10 CY 1 MT 1 LU 2 MC 2 LI 2 RS 1

3. 3 Some characteristics PATLIB centres in Europe are very diverse in –attachment to national or regional supervising authorities

4. 4 Types of hosting authorities

5. 5 Some characteristics PATLIB centres in Europe are very diverse in –attachment to national or regional supervising authorities –size (staff, infrastructure) –user structure –services provided –funding Main users: –small and medium sized enterprises –academic sector

6. 6 Traditional services (library based) Reading room Document delivery Basic search services Helpdesk

7. 7 Challenges for PATLIB centres Not longer "monopolists" in providing patent documents (and information) Patent information is accessible for everybody, often free of charge Decreasing budgets in the public sector Rapidly changing information technology Changing user demands PATLIB centres need to become providers of innovation support services

8. 8 Co-operation programme to reorient patent information centres Objective: –Enable PATLIB centres to offer patent related innovation support centres mainly in the pre-filing and commercialisation phase of inventions –Sustainability of the services –Establishing networking relations with other innovation support institutions Implementation procedure: –pilot project with a limited number of centres to test the concept –inclusion in the National Action Plans –after successful completion -> larger scale implementation possibly supported by the European Commission

9. 9 Selection criteria for pilot participants Sufficient staff resources (number and profile) Adequate infrastructure and equipment Willingness of the hosting organisation to guarantee the centre's funding during and after the pilot project

10. 10 Co-operation programme to reorient patent information centres (pilot project) Project components: Tools for –enhanced user support for searches (e.g. shared browsing) –patent analyses and visualisation of search results –development of patent strategies and patent portfolio management –evaluation of the economic potential of inventions Modular training programme and e-learning tools Coaching by staff from well developed centres already offering sophisticated innovation support services

11. 11 Co-operation programme to reorient patent information centres (pilot project) Accompanying measure: Promotional activities for the services (awareness events, information material) Fostering the collaboration with other (regional and national) innovation support institutions, e.g. chambers of commerce, EEN Experience exchange between the pilot participants

12. 12 Roadmap Approval of the co-operation programme by the AC end of October 2009 Nomination of candidates by the national offices Selection of suitable pilot participants (18 centres from CZ, EE, ES, FI, FR, GB, IT, LV, PL, RO, SK, TR) Drafting the training programme oEstablishing individual working plans Adapting / acquiring relevant tools oImplementing the agreed activities Regular monitoring and evaluation of implementation activities Project proposal to the EC

13. 13 Planned training modules in the pilot project Skills and tools for extended search services Supplementary services emphasizing business use of patents Operating a PATLIB centre in a business environment

14. 14 Sophisticated services (business based) to be provided Patent strategy development Sophisticated search services with interpretation of results Monitoring services Evaluation of economic value of IP rights User training Commercialisation support Patent clinics IP audits

15. 15 Funding of the project activities Cost sharing according to the EPO's co-operation policy with member states List of eligible cost –Acquisition costs for tools necessary for carrying out the new innovation support services –Costs related to the preparation and production of information material on the services (e.g. brochures, leaflets). –Costs related to information and awareness events –Costs related to the participation in the training modules for the pilot project and the participation in the annual PATLIB conference –Costs related to establishing and maintaining networking contacts to other innovation support institutions –Costs for coaching by staff from advanced PATLIB centres –Costs related to the delivery of extended search services or patent statistic analyses upon presentation of an evaluation form filled by the client.

16. 16 Thank you very much for your attention Questions? hkrestel@epo.org