Intellectual property changes ‘to help turn ideas into jobs’

BUSINESSES will benefit from new rules on intellectual property which will make it easier for entrepreneurs to turn creative ideas into “smart” jobs, according to the Enterprise Minister Batt O’Keeffe.

Announcing plans to “overhaul” the regime, he said he had asked an expert group to ensure all enterprises have better access to Government-supported intellectual property.

This will allow to use it to create jobs and drive the economic recovery, he said.

Speaking at the first meeting of a group set up to implement the recommendations of the Innovation Task Force, Mr O’Keeffe said he wanted to make it easier for entrepreneurs to turn creative ideas into “smart” jobs by ironing out the kinks in the intellectual property process.

He has appointed an expert group of technology transfer practitioners and cross-sector industry representatives to implement the intellectual property-related recommendations of the Innovation Taskforce report.

The group will be chaired by Dr Jim Mountjoy, founder of Euristix and a board member of Science Foundation Ireland.

“Strong Government investment in research and development means that we now have a vibrant intellectual property sector – but my concern is that we do not have a system that is fast enough in allowing these ideas be turned into commercialised products and, ultimately, jobs,” Mr O’Keeffe said.