By: Juan Carlos Calderón

Latin American Initiatives for Innovation

The presence of individuals and companies that with no rights whatsoever rely on the innovation and creativity of others to fraudulently profit, currently is a great risk for innovators and creators, mainly because information technologies have enabled the quick and often complete access, to products and services that are marketed in other territories.

For this reason, the regional government of the State of Sinaloa in Mexico has recently been willing to once again promote its initiatives in favor of the registry of trademarks and patents in this locality. This proposal, in addition to preventing the improper use of intangible property, seeks to protect and encourage development in the fields of science and technology that may be marketed.

In this respect, the government of Sinaloa continues promoting the Innovation Encouragement Program (PEI) (for its acronym in the Spanish language), a subsidy by the State strategy to obtain invention patents and utility models, and to register industrial designs and all innovations that the companies are creating; emphasizing in the importance of registering them on due time and acknowledging their great economic value.

The main purpose of the PEI is to support the companies that invest in research projects, development of technologies and innovation, aimed at the creation of new goods, processes or services. Since its entry into force in 2009, this program has generated positive results in Mexico, placing Sinaloa in the 14th place among the States that have requested more patents in Mexico which adds impetus to the companies, since there are only the fourth State to propose a strategy on industrial property with clear objectives, such as to be placed and remain among the first 5 places with more registries in Mexico.

Universidad Politécnica de Sinaloa invites to Patent

Universidad Politécnica de Sinaloa (UPSIN) (for its acronym in the Spanish Language) has also joined the PEI and from the institution they call upon all citizens to take action in this important issue and also invites them to participate in this activity of protection of their rights. Stating that there is a great commitment in everything related to intellectual property, which aims to protect patents and trademarks that are pending and/or being developed.

What is being done in other Latin American Regions?

It is important to mention that this governmental or private financing practice or strategy in industrial property matters is not unfamiliar to some Latin American regions. There are other institutions that are committed to develop programs to promote the research, study and development of new technologies that result in patented processes and/or products

As an example, we can highlight the work of the Latin America Development Bank (CAF) through the program Regional Initiative of Technological Patents for Development, which aims to promote regional training and institutional strengthening in technological innovations that may be patented and with commercial purposes. With these training strategies institutions are strengthened and lines of action are created in conjunction with researchers and innovators, increasing the number of patent applications in countries where this program has been implemented. Currently, these activities have been performed in alliance and agreements with important universities in countries, such as, Panama, Colombia, Paraguay and Mexico, obtaining significant results.

In Venezuela

The Autonomous Service of Intellectual Property (SAPI) (for its acronym in the Spanish Language), in recent years has developed similar initiatives, but in limited matters. This institution has offered training workshops for the creation of Socio-Productive Collective Trademarks, which would serve as an instrument for the support of the country’s economic development. However, the scope of this project is limited only to trademark issues and specifically to collective trademarks, so it would be very interesting if it could be extended to innovation and technological development issues that enable the obtaining of patents and their marketing.

Sources:

Image: FreeImages.com/ dlritter
Punto MX: http://punto.mx/publicacion/deben-empresarios-registrar-su-propiedad-intelectual-antes-que-les-ganen-estado-29770
Development Bank of Latin America: https://www.caf.com