World Intellectual Property Day is a global observance held on April 26th to raise awareness about the significance of intellectual property rights in fostering innovation. The theme for this year’s celebration is “Women and IP: Accelerating Innovation and Creativity,” which recognises the contributions of women to the world of innovation.
Safeguarding your IP is vital to prevent others from using or selling it without your consent. By licensing or selling your IP, you can generate profits or royalties. Moreover, IP can serve as collateral for securing investments or loans from financial institutions. Therefore, protecting and utilising your IP is paramount for any thriving business.
Intellectual property (IP) refers to any creation of the mind, such as a book, an invention, a piece of art, or a symbol. IP can be categorised into two types: Hard IP, which includes patents for inventions, trademarks, and industrial designs; and Soft IP, which encompasses copyright, trade secrets, and data.
Women in IP
As a way of acknowledging and celebrating Women in Innovation and commemorating World IP day, we reached out to our team of Innovation Funding Consultants to share their unique insights, experiences, and views on the contribution of women in the Research and Development sector.
Lesley Brown – Innovation Consultant
Hear from Innovation Consultant, Lesley Brown and her views on the representation of women in the R&D Industry. Lesley has co-owned a web/software development company for over twenty years before joining IFTC as a Technical Consultant. She brings extensive knowledge in ecommerce websites for both B2C and B2B involving integration to warehouse management systems, supply chain management systems, payment gateways and social media platforms for small and large organisations. She is interested in all thing’s technology. She has completed a module in Biomedical Informatics as part of the MSc in Personalised Medicine which involved learning Python programming. Before this she has worked as a computer network manager within Ernst and Young (EY) and the Northern Ireland Environment & Heritage Agency (NIEA).
1. Can you briefly describe your path into R&D?
“I was co-owner of a web/software development company that developed different software products so was fully involved in R&D from a development perspective. I decided to change career path and am now an R&D Technical consultant helping companies with their R&D claims.”
2. Can you provide some examples where you helped accelerate innovation for your clients?
“My role means that I assist clients to get R&D tax credits which is crucial to them being able to invest the resource to develop innovative processes and products.”
3. How do you feel about the representation of women in the R&D sector? / Have you worked with many female entrepreneur clients?
“I have worked with a variety of women in the R&D sector. My area would be IT/Software where I have worked with female technical directors who are at the forefront of the development of emerging technologies.”
4. What could be done to encourage more women to get involved in innovation?
“Give opportunities for women to be involved in R&D, access to role models and mentors.”
Ashleigh Patterson – Innovation Consultant
We also asked Ashleigh Patterson about her journey into R&D and what she thinks about the representation of women in R&D. Ashleigh achieved a first-class honours degree from Queen’s University Belfast in Biochemistry with Professional Studies. During her career, Ashleigh spent over 5 years in R&D within Randox Laboratories, where she developed clinical diagnostic tests for various automated and semi-automated analysers. During her time here she developed a point-of-care multiplex test for thyroid disorders and led a team of scientists in the development of a novel Covid-19 test. Ashleigh’s experience within a research setting has given her the skillset required for writing technical reports for R&D tax credit claims.
1. Can you briefly describe your path into R&D?
I studied biochemistry at Queen’s University Belfast and soon after finishing my studies I began working in R&D within a diagnostics company, where I developed clinical tests for three and a half years (in addition to a year’s placement during my university degree). In 2022 I decided that I wanted to take on a new challenge and discovered the world of R&D tax credits. I thought that my R&D background and mindset would be valuable in assisting companies to identify eligible R&D activities. It’s been a fantastic experience and I love discussing R&D with all of my clients.
2. Can you provide some examples where you helped accelerate innovation for your clients?
Ultimately, our goal is to help innovative companies identify eligible R&D activities so that they can claim R&D tax relief and re-invest this money into further innovation. I work with several clients in the life sciences, agriculture and food and drink industries to help them accelerate their innovation. Of note, I have helped a client in the biotechnology industry who is working to develop a 3D printed bioscaffold for use in knee arthroplasty and another who was working to develop new methodologies for the safer study of the Covid-19 virus, SARS-CoV-2. Within the agriculture industry I work with clients who are researching new, sustainable methods of growing crops (e.g., peat free) that will allow them to produce the yield and quality of crops required without adversely affecting the environment. Within the food and drink industry I have helped a client release cash flow into their business so they may continue to research more efficient and sustainable methods of brewing beer.
3. How do you feel about the representation of women in the R&D sector? / Have you worked with many female entrepreneur clients?
The representation of women within the R&D sector has improved over the years overall, but ultimately, further representation is much needed. The European Commission’s ‘She Figures Report’ is a great reference point for statistics surrounding gender equality in research and innovation in the EU and beyond. Of note, women represent only around one third of researchers.
I have worked with a few female entrepreneur clients within the life science industry, but I would say around 90% of my clients are males. The agricultural industry, in particular, is massively underrepresented by women from my perspective. I would love to see that figure change over the next few years with more women getting involved in innovation and research.
4. What could be done to encourage more women to get involved in innovation?
Continue to promote STEM from a young age, promote and celebrate the success of females involved in innovative work and continue to strive for gender equality in research and innovation (for example, pay parity and removal of any sexual bias in the application of female-generated research results).
IFTC’s view
Women have played a significant role in shaping the Intellectual Property (IP) landscape over the years. Despite this, women have traditionally been underrepresented in the IP industry, particularly in technical roles. In recent years, there has been an effort to increase diversity and inclusivity in the field of IP, including the recognition of the contributions of women to innovation and creativity.
The theme for World IP Day 2023 is “Women and IP: Accelerating Innovation and Creativity,” which highlights the critical role that women play in driving innovation forward. Women have made significant contributions to the creation, protection, and management of intellectual property. They have excelled in a range of fields, from science and engineering to the arts and entertainment industry.
Efforts are being made to address the gender gap in the IP industry and to provide more opportunities for women to succeed. Organisations are advocating for greater representation of women in technical and leadership roles and encouraging the next generation of women to consider careers in IP. The recognition of the achievements of women in IP is a crucial step in creating a more diverse and inclusive industry that can continue to drive innovation and progress.
We have a dedicated IP Service which will deal with any of your queries, contact Edward O’Gorman for more information on our IP Services: Edward.ogorman@ianfarley.com.
