Check out the article in the newspaper “O Novo” about Intellectual Property in Portugal, its challenges and opportunities.

The result of a very interesting interview by Joana Petiz with Gustavo A. M. M. Lopes da Silva, Executive Board Member of RCF – Protecting Innovation.

Gustavo Lopes da Silva in an interview with O Novo

“In patent protection, taking the right steps at the right time is also crucial, but most companies and entrepreneurs still do not do so. Even where there is more industry and innovation, many are still unaware of the need to protect their creations. Once something becomes public—through a publication, even on a site with few views—it can no longer be protected by a patent.

For Gustavo Lopes da Silva, it would therefore be important to boost the intellectual property sector in Portugal, and for that, it would be relevant to give a push, namely with incentives from the PRR. “Today, what exists is very scarce and complex, with a company able to access about 1,700 euros per year for intellectual property matters,” he says. That is why he downplays news that patent applications in Portugal have tripled in ten years. “In the north of the country, where there is great industrial and inventive capacity, almost nothing is protected. A patent application and its granting is a process that can take up to 18 months, with the use being valid for 20 years, but requiring annual validation. At the moment, the conversion ratio between requested and granted patents is 36%, meaning only about a third of what is requested is approved. And then, regarding the use of patents, companies like Bial, Navigator, or Amorim can fully utilize them, but most SMEs and startups that initiate these processes cannot.”

The RCF representative therefore sees great growth potential in the intellectual property sector. He emphasizes that this investment can truly help to enhance the country, the Portuguese economy, and the national business fabric. “What is done here has quality and innovation, but it needs to be protected and valued.”

Article published in the NOVO edition on Friday, March 29https://lnkd.in/deG3gwYp

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