Written by: Laura Dempsey
Wright Brothers Institute (WBI) developed and presented an “IP 101” training class directed at Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) scientists and engineers (S&Es) from across the enterprise. The training was titled “How Patenting Your Inventions Supports the Air Force Mission” and took place on April 9.
Jeff Wheeler, WBI’s Intellectual Property (IP) Program Manager, developed and presented the material that gave everyone who attended new knowledge about how to patent their inventions and how to make their patents stronger and more readily licensable.
The training served to educate S&Es about the purpose, importance, and procedures for patenting inventions. Mr. Wheeler stressed that well thought out patents can result in more successful licensing efforts. The more quickly inventions and new technology becomes licensable, the faster that technology can transition to outside development companies and groups.
AFRL S&Es are researchers and inventors trained in technology, and they are often not well-versed in writing good patents and securing licensing deals. Both aspects are an important part of taking research out of the lab and putting it into the hands of a manufacturer or developer. Faster development of the technology hastens transition back to the battlefield on behalf of the warfighter.
This training session was originally planned to be in person at WBI’s Springfield Street facilities, but the Coronavirus stay-at-home order required all participants to attend via a virtual platform. That transition was handled by WBI without a hitch: all the attendees had to do was to register, and then login.
Part of WBI’s mission is to continue the training and education of AFRL’s workforce so that they can quickly and efficiently identify key technologies. Armed with this training, S&Es can better assist with the patent process, which leads to commercialization and faster transition of their technology back to the warfighter.