Intellectual
property Minister, Baroness Wilcox, today challenged UK firms to
make more use of the ‘green channel’ that helps speed up the
patent process for innovative eco-friendly ideas and gives a real
boost to their businesses.
The Minister set out the challenge on a series of visits to
companies in Surrey that are successfully using their intellectual
property to add value to their business. Baroness Wilcox praised
Gordon Murray Design for its use of the ‘green channel’ which has
allowed the small company to get its product off the ground faster
and go on to produce low-cost, environmentally-friendly cars which
use recycled plastic bottles in the cars’ body panels.
Baroness Wilcox said: “It’s tremendous to see how an idea has
been turned into an actual business product swiftly and
efficiently. By using the ‘green channel’, an environmentally
friendly idea and novel approach to manufacturing is being brought
to market quickly, helping to deliver real value and growth to a
typically inventive small British firm.
“ Protecting your intellectual property, and maximising its
economic potential, makes a real impact especially for small
companies which are the lifeblood of the UK economy.”
Gordon Murray Design is an innovative small firm which has
recognised the value in protecting their creative ideas. They
designed and developed the iStream® automotive manufacturing
process which they are beginning to licence out so that other
companies can invest in, manufacture and deliver their
environmentally friendly cars. They successfully used the ‘green
channel’ to obtain UK patents which meant they were processed
faster because the invention had an environmental benefit, and
allowed them greater protection and more freedom to get the
benefit from their ground-breaking car.
Gordon Murray said: “iStream® manufacturing technology
has created an opportunity for Gordon Murray Design to construct a
unique IP model in the automotive sector”.
Baroness Wilcox also visited
Connect 2 Innovation, a company which has successfully worked
with Gordon Murray Design to develop intellectual property
strategies and licensing agreements. Surrey Satellite Technology
Ltd, the world’s leading small satellite company and a
manufacturer of small space missions and technology.
Final stop of the day was at the University of Surrey where
Baroness Wilcox visited the South East IP project, a previous
winner of the Intellectual Property Office’s Fast Forward
competition. The Minister was given a demonstration of the project
along with an account as to how the funding allowed the partners
to share research, best practice and encourage knowledge transfer
between universities, public sector research establishments and
business.
Notes to editors
Photos of the Minister’s visit can be accessed here
www.flickr.com/photos/bisgovuk/
The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) is within the Department
for Business, Innovation, and Skills (BIS) and is responsible for
the national framework of IP rights, comprising patents, designs,
trade marks and copyright.
Its role is to help manage an IP system that encourages
innovation and creativity, balances the needs of consumers and
users, promotes strong and competitive markets and is the
foundation of the knowledge-based economy.
It operates in a national and an international environment and
its work is governed by national and international law, including
various international treaties relating to IP to which the United
Kingdom is a party.
Connect 2 Innovation is one of seven regional delivery partners
for the BIS Business Coaching for Growth programme.
Contacts:
BIS Press Office
NDS.BIS@coi.gsi.gov.uk
Veena Mapara
Phone: 020 7215 5614
veena.mapara@bis.gsi.gov.uk