European Intellectual Property Teachers Network
The first meeting of the Intellectual Property Teachers Network was in 2000, with participants from around the UK. In that first meeting, participants envisaged the workshop becoming an important and enjoyable social and intellectual gathering at the end of each teaching year. Since then, the network has organised workshops on an annual basis, timed as a welcome social event as well as a valued opportunity for revision of the previous year and gathering of new ideas for the forthcoming year.
This year, it has re-launched as a European-wide network, the European Intellectual Property Teachers' Network (EIPTN), an expansion made possible through funding from the European Patent Academy. The EIPTN aims to bring together academics from across Europe to exchange ideas on innovation and best practice in intellectual property teaching and learning activities. recognising the importance and relevance of collaboration beyond UK institutions. The Network is interdisciplinary in focus, with participants reflecting IP teaching in a range of disciplines, including law, politics, international relations, business studies, economics and computing science.
The first annual meeting of EIPTN was held at Aston Business School, 25 June 2007, co-organised by Duncan Matthews (QMIPRI) and Claire Howell (Aston Business School). The meeting was preceded by an Annual Dinner on the evening of Sunday 24th June. The annual meeting differs from conventional academic conferences, conceived as an opportunity for IP teachers to meet and exchange ideas in an informal setting, with the focus of discussion firmly on teaching issues rather than research.
The keynote speaker at the event was Stephen Rowan, Intellectual Property and Innovation Directorate, United Kingdom Intellectual Property Office, and a member of the team for the Gowers Review of Intellectual Property. In the light of the Gowers Review, Stephen Rowan's address considered whether the intellectual property system is fit for purpose in an era of globalisation, digitalisation and increasing economic specialisation.
While the Network is inspired and managed by individual IP teachers, QMIPRI is one of many institutions proud to lend support. The Network will soon expand to include a dedicated website and mailing list. Meanwhile, please visit www.qmipri.org for ongoing updates and information, mailing lists and details of next year's workshop.
For further information on this year's event and future meetings, contact:
Duncan Matthews or Claire Howell