'Gaining the edge through patent information': roadshow in Bavaria

The Patent Information Centre in Nuremberg views a pivotal aspect of its remit as being to make the public at large, and small to medium-sized companies in particular, more aware of the potential benefits of patent information. This was the motivation behind its decision to stage a roadshow entitled 'Gaining the edge through patent information' -- although it also drew inspiration from a similar event staged by its British colleagues. The core idea is to reach out to companies and bring home to them the information potential in patents by coming out to them, thus saving them travelling time and hence money which they would otherwise have to spend attending such events. The Patent Information Centre, which is run by the Bavarian state's trade supervisory office (LGA), drew up blueprint for the roadshow in 1996 and found a partner to help it implement the project in Bayern Innovativ GmbH, a company whose activities include coordinating technology transfer in Bavaria as well as supporting patent information projects.