1 The PATLIB (Patent Library) Network in Europe Heidrun Krestel European Affairs, Member States 19 May 2010

1

The PATLIB (Patent Library)Network in Europe

Heidrun Krestel

European Affairs, Member States19 May 2010

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Presentation overview

• Landscape of the European PATLIB network

• PATLIBs' innovation support services for users

• EPO's collaboration with and support for the European PATLIB network

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The European PATLIB network -37 member states 340 centres (including information units of national patent offices)

IS3

NO1

SE1

AT8FR

28

DE25

PL27

ES25

PT25

SM1

IT61

FI16

EE2

GR4

CH1

CZ11

TR20

AL1

HR1

HU4 RO

17

MK1

BG6

SI3

SK5

DK1

GB14

IE1

LV2

LT5NL

1

BE10

CY1

MT1

LU2

MC2 LI

2

European PATLIB network

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PATLIB density per country

Population per centre

0

2.000.000

4.000.000

6.000.000

8.000.000

10.000.000

12.000.000

14.000.000

16.000.000

18.000.000

Austri

a

Belgium

Bulgar

ia

Croat

ia

Cypru

s

Czech

Rep

ublic

Denm

ark

Estonia

Finlan

d

Franc

e

Germ

any

Greec

e

Hunga

ry

Icelan

d

Irelan

dIta

ly

Latvi

a

Liech

tens

tein

Lithu

ania

Luxe

mbo

urg

Mac

edon

ia, T

FYRM

alta

Mon

aco

Nethe

rland

s

Norway

Poland

Portu

gal

Roman

ia

Slovak

ia

Sloven

ia

Spain

Sweden

Switzer

land

Turke

y

United

King

dom


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Some characteristics

• PATLIB centres in Europe are very diverse in– attachment to national or regional supervising

authorities


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Types of hosting authorities

14%

10%

24%26%

26%

National office

Libraries

Industryassociations

Technologycentres

Universities


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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


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Benefits for users

• Vicinity

• Excellent IP expertise and patent information retrieval skills

• National / regional language

• Knowledge of local economic conditions and users' needs


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Traditional services (library based)

Reading room

Document delivery

Basic search services

Helpdesk

Innovation support services

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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


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PATLIB's services in the innovation chain

idea decisionto develop

patent / utility model application further IP rights

R&D Product design

Production Commerciali-sation

Trend and market analysis searches, funds acquisition

State of the art,novelty search, search for partners/suppliers

Market and competitormonitoring

Check for infringements


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Sophisticated services (business based)

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


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The vision for the future

• Enhanced service portfolio• Specialisation toward relevant target groups• Further qualification of staff• Improvement of visibility (promotion and marketing)• Self-sustainability• Networking with other innovation support entities


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Collaboration EPO - PATLIBsBasic principles

• Acknowledgement of and first level support for PATLIB centre is at national level

• Co-operation EPO - PATLIB requires consent of the NPO

• EPO's co-operation policy applies for activities with PATLIBs

EPO NPO PATLIB

EPO's support for PATLIBs

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General EPO support for PATLIB centres

• Information on each centre on the EPO website (directory), including links to their websites


16/22EPO's support for PATLIBs

17/22EPO's support for PATLIBs

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General EPO support for PATLIB centres

• Information on each centre on the EPO website (directory), including links to their websites

• Annual PATLIB conference as platform for communication and exchange of best practice

• Training on EPO patent information tools and other relevant topics (at EPO premises or on site upon request)


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Co-operation programme to reorient patent information centres (pilot project)

• 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

• 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


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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


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Roadmap

Presentation of the to co-operation programme to the TOSC in September

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● Drafting the training programme Establishing individual working plans Adapting / acquiring relevant tools Implementing the agreed activities Regular monitoring and evaluation of implementation activities Project proposal to the EC


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Thank you very much for your attention

Questions?

[email protected]

Documents

1 The PATLIB (Patent Library) Network in Europe Heidrun Krestel European Affairs, Member States 19 May 2010