What is an invention? How to best commercialise the results of your research? Which ideas can and cannot be patented? - answers to these key questions were given during Intellectual Property & Innovation Week at the University of Gdańsk. The five-day event was organised by the Technology Transfer Office UG as part of World Intellectual Property Day, which falls on 26 April.

‘The Intellectual Property Week at our university is an excellent space to discuss the concept of an entrepreneurial university, nurturing the development of new interdisciplinary fields and research areas dedicated to providing solutions to specific contemporary societal challenges,' opened the third day of meetings, workshops and discussions by the Rector of the University of Gdańsk, prof. dr hab. Piotr Stepnowski.

Subsequently, Deputy President of the Patent Office of the Republic of Poland dr Piotr Zakrzewski talked about the theory of intellectual property in practice. The representative of the PPO drew attention to the great freedom in patenting and managing an invention, but also to certain limitations in this process. ‘The whole system of intellectual property law takes the position that the creator is a human being; not artificial intelligence, not nature, not an animal, but a human being,’ he said.

Whether it is worth patenting and how to do it was discussed by the participants of the next panel - representatives of the research and business communities. The debate was moderated by Radio MORS head dr Maciej Goniszewski from the Department of Corporate Finance at the Faculty of Management.

Base Group CEO Jakub Kaszuba noted that the lack of innovation in the Polish market may be due to poor understanding and definition of common goals between the worlds of science and business. The need to build a thread of understanding between scientists and entrepreneurs, especially in light of the creation of new sectors in Pomerania (e.g. Offshore Wind Energy), was also pointed out by the Vice-Rector for Cooperation and Development of the UG, dr hab. Sylwia Mrozowska, prof. UG.

The co-author of Polish and European patents prof. dr hab. Sylwia Rodziewicz-Motowidło from the UG Faculty of Chemistry talked about developing this cooperation. The scientist pointed out that during her meetings with representatives of companies, soft skills and thorough preparation played a major role in effective cooperation.

Magdalena Wójtowicz, Vice-President of the Board of the Gdańsk Entrepreneurship Foundation - Starter Incubator, shared her observations on the detrimental effect of all kinds of indicators on innovation. Much more important, according to the panellist, is the human aspect and the focus on creating value for other people.

Product Manager from Currenda Lab Klaudia Maciejewska emphasised the importance of creating a win-win situation, not only when discussing the benefits of an idea, but also when establishing what both parties want to achieve.

Deputy President of the Polish Patent and Trademark Office dr Piotr Zakrzewski noted that it is worth nurturing innovation in young people. As an example, he told the story of high school student Piotr Lazarek, who realised his idea for a rover that examines soil samples in real time and is now the CEO of a successful start-up called NIRBY Solutions. –‘All this was possible because Piotr protected his solution at the right time,’ the UPRP representative concluded.

The third day of the Intellectual Property & Innovation Week organised by the Technology Transfer Office also featured two panels on building an effective business and supporting innovation, as well as a workshop entitled. ‘How to prepare for a meeting with an investor?’.