VOICES Bi-Monthly Magazine of the University of Technology, Jamaica | January – March 2022 10 University of Technology, Jamaica, through its Technology Innovation Centre (TIC) has partnered with the Jamaica Intellectual Property Office (JIPO), with the support of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), to develop a Technology and Innovation Support Centre (TISC) to assist Jamaican patent holders who are seeking to commercialize their products. With this strategic partnership, the TIC, which was established in 2002 at the University’s Joan Duncan School of Entrepreneurship, Ethics and Leadership (JDSEEL), will take another step in advancing its mission of increasing economic activities in Jamaica and the Caribbean through promoting entrepreneurship by offering world class knowledge and development, technological and business support services. Through the TISC, patent holders who have filed patents over the last three to five years at the JIPO, will be offered assistance with seeking funding from grant funding agencies through the TIC’s Small Business Development Centre. Additionally, the TISC will conduct patent feasibility for commercialization sessions, facilitate training seminars for patent holders and assist with public relations and communication to promote patent holders’ products. The TISC will also facilitate access to technical information to strengthen innovation, inventions, intellectual property (IP) registration and commercialization by individuals and organizations in the Jamaican economy. Mr. Nigel Cooper, Head, JDSEEL noted that the University is gratified to be able to provide Jamaican patent holders with a channel to pursue support to commercialize their inventions, adding that “many Jamaican patent holders He noted that the TISC, and the partnership with the JIPO is another avenue through which UTech, Jamaica is aiming to boost economic development and promote entrepreneurial endeavours in the country. Miss Lilyclaire Bellamy, Executive Director, JIPO noted that “the Jamaica Intellectual Property Office is pleased to support UTech, Jamaica and the TISC in their efforts to assist Jamaican patentees to commercialize their inventions. JIPO is committed to facilitating and empowering innovators to take advantage of opportunities that exist in the open market. Such initiatives will only strengthen the intellectual property ecosystem for MSMEs in Jamaica.” Persons who hold patent applications or patent grants at JIPO who are interested in this initiative are asked to contact JIPO at info@jipo.gov.jm or the Technology and Innovation Support Centre at UTech, Jamaica at ticreceptionist@utech.edu.jm or telephone 876-970-5505. The Small Business Development Centre is a joint project with the Jamaica Business Development Centre (JBDC) and the TIC “ to make quality business consulting services and education accessible to the MSME sector.” The Joan Duncan Trust has pledged an additional $ 4.8 Million dollars to support operations at the SBDC over the same two- year period. Professor Colin Gyles (first right), Acting President, accepts a symbolic cheque in the amount of $3M dollars from Mrs. Kim Mair (third left), CEO, JMMB Joan Duncan Foundation, presented in support of covering the cost of staff salary for a two-year period, commencing in January 2022, at the Small Business Development Centre (SBDC) located at the Technology Innovation Centre (TIC), Joan Duncan School of Entrepreneurship, Ethics and Leadership (JDSEEL, UTech, Jamaica Papine Campus . The cheque was presented on Wednesday, March 16, 2022 at the TIC. Sharing in the occasion (from left) are Mrs. Andrea Bolton-Fyffe, Incubator Manager, TIC, Mr. Nigel Cooper, Head, JDSEEL, Ms Ranique Satchell, Administrative Officer, JMMB Joan Duncan Foundation and Dr. Andrea Sutherland, Dean, College of Business and Management. TIC’s Small Business Development Centre Receives Support from JMMB Joan Duncan Foundation UTech, Jamaica and JIPO Partner to Support Patent Holders
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