14. Juni 2022
The EPO
has become an observer organisation in the European Technology Transfer Offices
Circle (TTO Circle), a network co-ordinated by the European Commission and its
Directorate-General Joint Research Centre (DG JRC).
This offers the PATLIB network an opportunity to gain
greater insight into the latest developments in technology transfer and align
the promotion of related EPO and PATLIB activities accordingly. The new role
will also help strengthen the EPO’s commitment to patent valorisation and its
co-operation with the European Commission.
The TTO Circle was initiated in 2011
by DG JRC to help bring together the major European public research
organisations with a view to advancing the technology transfer landscape
and innovation in Europe. The network now comprises 31 members from major
European research organisations. Additionally, several other organisations
have observer status, including WIPO and the Association of European
Science and Technology Transfer Professionals (ASTP).
The EPO’s participation in the TTO Circle will not only
increase the visibility of the PATLIB network but also inform the
implementation of PATLIB 2.0, a major project under Goal 4 of Strategic Plan 2023.
Within the project, the „Tech transfer qualification and global network“ plan
foresees the EPO becoming a leading partner in at least one of the existing
technology transfer professional qualification schemes (ATTP / RTTP and CLP). The successful implementation of the plan will further
boost the role of the Office and the PATLIB network in the technology transfer
field.