At USI, a workshop to protect your ideas

A successful workshop on intellectual property was held on Monday, 23 March, organised by USI Transfer and the USI Startup Centre in collaboration with the Federal Institute of Intellectual Property.

The event was designed to raise awareness of the importance of protecting and leveraging ideas and projects. It offered the USI academic community—specifically current and future researchers and inventors—practical tools and strategic insights. Key topics included the challenges posed by evolving digital technologies, the increasing complexity of IP rights, and the necessity of addressing these legalities from the earliest stages of a project.

Participants explored primary strategies for safeguarding innovation and gained a clearer understanding of how to navigate patents, copyrights, and other legal instruments. Key recommendations from the workshop included:

• patent first, publish later;
• monitor third-party patents during the product development phase (freedom-to-operate) to avoid costly surprises later;
• software can be protected by both patents and copyright, but for different aspects;
• consult an expert early to prevent potential problems.

A highlight of the workshop was the direct dialogue with expert Cristina Mayor, Head of the Electrical Engineering and ICT division at the Federal Institute of Intellectual Property. Participants had the opportunity to ask specific questions and receive expert clarifications. "I thank USI for the invitation and for the excellent organisation," commented Cristina Mayor. "It was an engaging and productive workshop with excellent participation. It sparked valuable discussions and raised significant awareness of IP issues within the USI community. Closing the event with pizza provided a wonderful, convivial end to the day!"

With this initiative, USI reaffirms its commitment to protecting and maximising the value of intellectual property developed by its researchers.

For more information, contact USI Transfer at [email protected].