Free Seminar on ‘Building a Business on Your Ideas’ comes to Athlone

Minister for Research and Innovation, Sean Sherlock TD, today (Thursday) urged businesses to avail of the opportunity to attend a Government-sponsored free seminar, ‘Building a Business on Your Ideas’ which will take place in the Midlands Innovation & Research Centre at Athlone Institute of Technology, Dublin Road, Athlone, Co Westmeath on Wednesday 27th March 2013.

The seminar, jointly organised by the Patents Office and the Enterprise Europe Network in co-operation with Enterprise Ireland and Westmeath County Enterprise Board, is aimed at small business-owners, entrepreneurs, inventors and start-up companies in Athlone and surrounding counties. Speakers include experts from the public and private sectors and a local entrepreneur.

Minister Sherlock said: “This seminar presents a great learning opportunity for small business-owners, entrepreneurs, inventors and start-up companies who want to scale their businesses or turn their ideas into viable enterprises”.  “The numbers attending these seminars around the country has been very encouraging and strong, positive feedback has been received from past participants”.

“The seminar will provide an insight into what are patents, trade marks and industrial designs and how they should be managed, how awareness of intellectual property rights can assist in converting an idea into a business opportunity as well as due diligence considerations in setting up a business”.

“There will also be an opportunity to hear about Government supports available from incubation to commercialisation”.

“It is not generally known that over 80% of new inventions are derived from, or inspired by, previous inventions, so following the seminar there will be a workshop which will offer guidance on where to source information on patented technologies and where details of previous inventions can be sourced”.
“Small businesses are the lifeblood of our economy and now more than ever they need every encouragement to start and grow their businesses and we in Government are determined to support their endeavours”. Minister Sherlock concluded.

Admission to the seminar is free but pre-registration is required online at http://www.een-ireland.ie/eei/events/register.asp?eventid=552 You may also register with the Patents Office by phoning 056-7720111 or e-mailing patlib@patentsoffice.ie

The seminars run from 9.15am to 13.20pm and there will be an opportunity to meet and talk to the speakers throughout the day and after the seminar from 2pm to 3.00pm.