― 21 Eylül 2024
The PATLIB 2024 Conference, hosted by TURKPATENT, was held between September 19–20, 2024.
Organized in cooperation with the European Patent Office (EPO) and the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office (TURKPATENT), the PATLIB 2024 Conference, hosted by TURKPATENT, was held between September 19–20, 2024.
The program was attended by EPO President António CAMPINOS, TÜRKPATENT President Prof. Dr. M. Zeki DURAK, and representatives of 39 countries that are parties to the European Patent Convention.
CAMPINOS: “Türkiye is a Leader in Europe with its PATLIB Network”
Delivering the opening speech of the conference, European Patent Office (EPO) President Antonio CAMPINOS stated that Türkiye has the largest PATLIB network in Europe. Drawing attention to Türkiye’s rapidly growing innovation ecosystem, CAMPINOS said, “This strong innovation network, led by Türkiye, constitutes the largest PATLIB network in Europe, and its position makes Türkiye a leader in this field.”
Referring to Türkiye’s successes on its path to becoming an innovation center, CAMPINOS said, “Last year, I had the opportunity to witness the projects of innovators in Türkiye at Teknofest. The aviation and technology projects exhibited at this event once again showed how strong Türkiye is in innovation.”
Providing detailed information about PATLIB Centers, CAMPINOS emphasized that these centers play a critical role in local innovation and technology transfer. “PATLIB Centers, as an important pillar of the European Patent Network, play a critical role in supporting the development of innovations all over Europe, and are the first stop for those preparing to present their ideas to the market. These centers not only provide access to patent data, but also facilitate the understanding and commercialization of this information.”
CAMPINOS stated that they aim to accelerate the innovation process by making patent data more accessible with the EPO's 2028 Strategic Plan. CAMPINOS added, “It is important for patented inventions to reach the market, so we aim to bring technology startups together with investors through platforms such as “Deep Tech Finder”.
DURAK: “PATLIB Centers are an Indicator of Türkiye's Innovation Power”
TURKPATENT President Prof. Dr. M. Zeki DURAK stated in his opening speech that Türkiye aims to be a global leader in innovation and economic development in line with the vision of the national technology initiative and that it follows a roadmap that encourages entrepreneurship and strengthens international collaborations.
He mentioned that according to the Global Innovation Index report recently published by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), the rise from 68th place to 39th place in 10 years is an important indicator in terms of indicating the point that our country's innovation capacity has reached.
DURAK emphasized that Türkiye has an important position in the industrial property ecosystem, and stated that according to the Intellectual Property Indicators Report published by WIPO, Türkiye ranks 2nd in design applications, 3rd in trademark applications and 12th in patent applications in the world.
Stating that the PATLIB 2024 Conference offers a great opportunity to showcase Türkiye's achievements in the field of industrial property in the international arena once again, DURAK stated that Türkiye ranks first in Europe with its 54 PATLIB Centers.
DURAK said, “These centers not only provide patent information, but also play an important role in technology transfer, commercialization of inventions and supporting innovation. This extensive PATLIB network that Türkiye has reflects our country's success in the innovation ecosystem.”
DURAK also stated that Türkiye supports its rapid rise in the field of innovation and technology with the National Technology Initiative and that the country aims to be a leader in the global innovation scene within the scope of this move. DURAK said, “Türkiye is following a roadmap that encourages entrepreneurship and strengthens international collaborations. Our technological innovation and start-up ecosystem are an important part of this vision.”
Closing of the Conference and Future Plans
PATLIB 2024 Conference ended with the closing ceremony on September 20. During the two-day event, important sessions were held on the future of industrial property and innovation. Participants exchanged ideas under topics such as “Technology Transfer and Patent Information Processes,” “Strengthening Local Innovation Ecosystems,” and “The Future of the PATLIB Network.”
Latest developments in innovation and industrial property were evaluated, and consultations on strengthening international cooperation were made during the event. In addition, strategic plans were announced for the expansion of the PATLIB network and its expansion to more regions. During the conference, new opportunities that will contribute to the industrial property ecosystem were discussed and efficient knowledge sharing was ensured between experts from different countries.
The sessions, which focused specifically on technology transfer, focused on supporting local innovation centers and making these processes more efficient. The role of PATLIB Centers and the strategic importance of these centers in supporting local and global innovation were emphasized.
About PATLIB Centers
PATLIB are centers specialized in patent research and strategy development, operating in cooperation with the European Patent Office (EPO). In Türkiye, 310 Industrial Property Advisory Units operating under the roof of TÜRKPATENT provide a wide range of services regarding industrial property rights. 54 of these units have earned the right to operate as PATLIB Centers, which made Türkiye the country with the highest number of PATLIB Centers in Europe.
