Promoting the development of technological patents in Panama

The Secretaría Nacional de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación (SENACYT) (National Secretariat of Science, Technology, and Innovation) and CAF, Development Bank of Latin America, started training for the development of Technological Patents. One hundred university students, teachers, researchers, and private sector professionals met to learn about the development of patents under the guidance of CAF experts and national facilitators in this matter. 

 

SENACYT and CAF are promoting this program for patentable technological innovation and generation of international patent applications via Panama, as a pilot Ibero-American program. During the inauguration of the training program, Dr. Jorge A. Motta, National Secretary of SENACYT pointed out, "One of the objectives of PENCYT is to develop competencies regarding industrial property and institutional and professional capacities for the transfer and marketing of said industrial property. To achieve this objective implies investments in training and strategic alliances. Therefore, SENACYT and CAF have joined their resources to present this first national training for the development of technological patents".

 

This training seeks to develop and strengthen institutional and entrepreneurial capacity in the accelerated conceptualization of innovating technologies and the writing of patent applications aimed at international markets. Susana Pinilla, CAF's Director Representative in Panama, explained, "With this type of initiative we intend to increase the capacity to generate more patent applications in Panama and their registration in the country and in the United States, for their marketing and the resulting positioning of Panama as a Latin American leader in innovation and patents. This significant effort in training for the conceptualization and registration of patentable technologies will benefit development and incomes in Panama". 

 

Under a similar program between CAF and the Universidad Tecnológica de Panamá (UTP), from Februaty until May of this year, students and teachers of the UTP generated more than 80 international patent applications using the "CAF Method for the Accelerated Development of Technological Patents". An important element of this project is the introduction, for the first time ever, of subjects related to credit for the development of patents. The academic council of the UTP already approved the first subject and the course will start on August 6th of this year. Pinilla stated, "We expect to continue successfully promoting the generation of international patents coming from Panama". 

 

The organizers estimate that approximately one patent application will be developed per participant. During the workshop participants will learn the accelerated conceptualization of innovative technologies, a practical search method for the state of the technique to determine the novelty of the technological concept, and the development of patent applications.