Innovation Centre of Industrial Property
PraF UK, CVTI SR and ÚPV SR team up to help Slovak inventors
Comenius University in Bratislava, Faculty of Law (PraF UK) together with the Centre for Scientific and Technical Information of the Slovak Republic (CVTI SR) has launched a joint workplace - the Innovation Centre of Industrial Property, in the preparation of which the Industrial Property Office of the Slovak Republic (ÚPV SR) is also engaged.
The Innovation Centre is a single consultation point for the provision of legal assistance and support to universities, colleges and public research institutions within the Slovak Republic in connection with the protection of the results of their scientific and research activities through the subject matter of industrial property rights. The aim of the establishment of this office is to raise awareness of the possibilities of protection of industrial property rights and to provide basic advice and assistance to scientists and inventors. Indeed, the university environment has great research potential and the possibility to increase the number of inventions and thus improve Slovakia's position in international rankings. The Innovation Centre at PraF UK is the pilot project to support the university environment in its activities in this format.
As part of the cooperation, PraF UK provided its professional staff and facilities for the establishment of the Innovation Centre, CVTI SR provides material support and coverage in terms of the National Infrastructure for the Support of Technology Transfer in Slovakia and ÚPV SR provides professional training to the staff of the Innovation Centre and provides them with guidance in the field of industrial property rights and the needs of inventors and scientists.
In terms of subject matter, the tasks of the Innovation Centre are mainly of a consultative and educational nature, the aim is not to replace the activities of patent agents or attorneys who are involved in the process of filing applications of industrial property. The Innovation Centre focuses in particular on the area of raising awareness before the actual creation or filing the application of IP rights, organising workshops and lectures, helping scientists and research teams to learn about the applicable legislation, highlighting possible risks and advising them on the next procedure.
"The merger of PraF UK, CVTI SR and ÚPV SR in the unique project of the Innovation Centre of Industrial Property follows the global trends, where similar innovation centres or incubators are very often established on the premises of universities due to their creative and diverse environment. This project shows that the activities at the Faculty of Law can often have, in addition to the pedagogical and scientific character, also a practical focus with an emphasis on the social aspect and improving the society in which we live, which definitely includes the promotion of innovation and science," said Assoc. JUDr. Eduard Burda, PhD., Dean of the Faculty of Law, CU.