Innovation can be found in all sectors and isn’t just the reserve of life saving pharmaceutical and rocket scientists, or autonomous vehicle engineers. Within the construction and built environment sector there are lots of examples of innovation – just ask our members!

These new ideas, brands, and designs have value and are worth protecting – they’re what is known as intellectual property (IP).

There are four types of IP: patents, trademarks, copyright, and registered designs. In this webinar trade mark and patent attorneys Abel + Imray will discuss how to protect and exploit your IP.

By joining this session you will:

• Recognise what IP is and how to identify it in your business
• Learn what others have done to protect their IP and how it can add value to your business
• Understand the opportunities and common pitfalls of IP regardless of your budget or commercial aims

Meet your speakers

Matthew Smith, Chartered Trade Mark Attorney, Abel + Imray

Matthew joined Abel + Imray in 2004 and is based in their London Office.

Before taking his M.Sc., Matthew worked for a year as a broadcast journalist, and he has some experience of trade mark work in Australia. His work covers all aspects of trade marks including preliminary clearance searches, advising on filing strategies, filing and prosecuting applications and handling opposition, invalidation and revocation actions.

He regularly deals with the UK, European Community, International and foreign trade mark systems, with particular experience in the Far East, and advises on copyright, design and domain name issues.

Ritchie Daniel, UK & European Patent Attorney, Abel + Imray

Ritchie joined Abel + Imray as an Associate in 2021, and is based in their Bath Office. He has a technical background – to Ph.D level – in mechanical engineering, and qualified as a European and Chartered UK patent attorney in 2016.

Ritchie handles patent and design work in a broad range of engineering fields, and is particularly interested in sustainable energy systems, especially those relevant to transportation. His interests extend to urban and air mobility, and, more recently, to the area of micromobility. His strong engineering background, and commercial awareness of the challenge of bringing innovations to market, enables him to be well-positioned to advise ambitious start-ups seeking investment or entities looking to expand.

Attendance

This event is open to all I-Construct members.

The I-Construct Network helps UK-based SMEs access opportunities in the construction market and develop new products and services within their businesses. If you’re not a member but are UK-based and interested in joining, please get in touch.

Build your business with the I-Construct network

Construction makes a huge contribution to our economy, our quality of life, and our environment. With major infrastructure and housing development planned and the need to tackle climate change, there has never been a more important time to innovate. We believe small businesses play a vital role in this process. And we can do more together. So, we created I-Construct, a member network with a dedicated innovation hub building for construction innovation.

Our mission is to unite like-minded businesses and client organisations in an active, forward-thinking community. We want to give that community the connections, mentorship, and financial support it needs to meet sector challenges and grow sustainably. Sharing business opportunities and lowering barriers to innovation. Attracting new talent and thinking into our industry.

Would you like to join us?