Agreement ensures expertise for future entrepreneurs
The University of Agder (UiA) and the Norwegian Industrial Property Office have signed an agreement to strengthen the education of students, teaching staff, administrative staff, researchers and PhD candidates in areas such as trademarks and branding, design protection and patents.
This article is more than two years old, and may contain outdated information.
Per Foss from the Norwegian Industrial Property Office and Gøril Hannås from UiA sign the cooperation agreement. (Photo: Industrial Property Office)
The purpose of the collaboration is to increase the expertise regarding intellectual property rights (IPR) within relevant disciplines at UiA, and also provide guidance to PhD candidates and UiA staff. In addition, the Norwegian Industrial Property Office will provide guidance with respect to projects involving business and industry.
UiA – the first university to sign the agreement
“Innovation is important to the University of Agder, and next autumn we will start our own master's programme in entrepreneurship where IPR is central. When developing good entrepreneurial ecosystems for students and commercialising research, it is important that our students and researchers have good knowledge of intellectual property rights. UiA is pleased to be the first university to have signed such a cooperation agreement with the Norwegian Industrial Property Office, and we look forward to future collaboration”, says Gøril Hannås, vice rector for external relations and innovation.
“The Industrial Property Office will contribute to greater knowledge of IPR and an understanding of the role of IPR in business and society at large. Getting this knowledge into relevant fields of study at the universities is an important step in the right direction. We are therefore extremely pleased that we have this cooperation agreement with the University of Agder in place”, says Per Foss in the Norwegian Industrial Property Office.
According to the agreement, the Norwegian Industrial Property Office will propose a curriculum on intellectual property rights, in addition to offering training, guidance and information material.
Per Foss in the Industrial Property Office and Gøril Hannås from UiA are pleased to have signed the first collaboration agreement for the development of expertise on intellectual property rights (IPR) between the Industrial Property Office and the universities in Norway. (Photo: Industrial Property Office)
About the University of Agder
The University of Agder seeks to be an open and inclusive university that is characterised by a culture of cooperation. UiA will have a clearly defined role as facilitator and contributor for promoting innovation in community, culture and business, and to strengthen research-based innovation regionally, nationally and internationally. UiA will have a clear role as facilitator and contributor to increase both research-based and experience-based innovation. UiA will offer relevant teaching for lifelong learning and future-oriented needs. The University will be an active participant in and contributor to the development of ideas and knowledge, and work to increase the commercialisation of research-based business ideas.
About the Industrial Property Office
The Industrial Property Office is a national centre for intellectual property rights. In addition to processing applications for patents and registration of designs and trademarks, this role also includes a responsibility to increase the knowledge and competence in industrial rights in business and society at large. The Industrial Property Office aims to help companies secure their investments and competitiveness, and thus create economic growth in society. Knowledge and information dissemination is provided through courses, lectures and through direct contact, and in the form of cooperation with other actors such as UiA.