GMU Representatives Attend National Science Conference ‘A Patent for Success in Industrial Property Protection’

The conference focused on current issues and challenges in industrial property law, including patent protection for inventions, industrial designs and trademarks, as well as selected procedural matters. The event also featured two expert panel discussions with the participation of GMU staff, devoted to the impact of new technologies on innovation and to the various avenues for protecting industrial property.

The panel entitled ‘Innovation – an Effective Path to Protection’ was moderated by Dr Magdalena Kukowska-Kaszuba, who invited experts to form a panel, including Dr Aneta Ocieczek, a researcher and inventor from the GMU Faculty of Management and Quality Science;  Alicja Kierońska-Kaczkowska, Coordinator of the Technology Transfer Section at the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn; Katarzyna Gronowska, Director of the Technology Transfer Centre of the University of Gdańsk; and Magdalena Wójtowicz, CEO of the Gdańsk Entrepreneurship Foundation STARTER. 

The panellists discussed the issues and challenges associated with fostering innovation, developing effective strategies for protecting new solutions, and following the path towards their commercialisation and market launch. They also highlighted the importance of raising awareness of intellectual property among younger generations and its potential for the future. The discussion included interesting examples and inspiring experiences connected with numerous successes in the commercialisation of Polish technological innovation and cooperation with young, creative innovators.   

Dr Krzysztof Czub, Dean of the Pomeranian District of the Polish Chamber of Patent Attorneys, moderated the panel ‘New Technologies as a Driving Force for Innovation and Patent Protection,’ inviting as expert panellists Professor Ireneusz Czarnowski, Dean of GMU’s Faculty of Computer Science; Emil Rojek, attorney-at-law and First Vice-Voivode of Pomerania; Professor Marcin Pawłowski of the International Centre for Theory of Quantum Technologies at the University of Gdańsk; Damian Mucha, President of the Management Board of the Pomeranian Regional Chamber of Commerce; and patent attorney Jarosław Markieta. 

The panel of experts discussed the impact of new technologies on innovation, artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, and the challenges of protecting intellectual property in the age of emerging technologies. Both panels highlighted the importance of cooperation within the local innovation ecosystem built by universities, business incubators, technology parks, local government institutions, as well as start-ups and entrepreneurs. Attention was also drawn to the important role of brokers from Technology Transfer Centres and patent attorneys as the first advisers to young scientists and innovators in creating innovation, building competitive advantage, and bringing solutions developed at Polish universities and start-ups to market. 

The conference brought together a large group of representatives of the academic community from the fields of law and technology, judges, prosecutors, patent attorneys, representatives of technology transfer centres from Pomeranian universities, entrepreneurs and creators, as well as interested students. The event took place at the Faculty of Law and Administration of the University of Gdańsk. It was organised by the Polish Chamber of Patent Attorneys. The media patron was Radio Gdańsk, while the publishing patron was Wolters Kluwer Polska. Honorary patronage over the event was assumed by the Mayor of the City of Gdańsk and the Pomeranian Voivode, Beata Rutkiewicz.