In today’s knowledge-based economy, patents often play an important role in design thinking and to be protected from intellectual plagiarism. Yet very little is known about intellectual property (IP) in general and patents in particular. 

At YES, we provide integrated, interdisciplinary IP programs because innovation requires the expertise of a variety of professionals: inventors, business professionals and legal advisors. It is essentially a team activity, demanding that participants understand at least some aspects of each other’s expertise, as well as effective communication across areas. Our education and outreach efforts focus on the creation and protection of intellectual property (IP) — this includes inventions, knowledge discovery, creative ideas and expressions of the human mind that might have commercial value and are protectable under patent, trademark, copyright or trade-secret laws. 

We invest in IP support to inspire the next generation of innovators. By providing these resources, we want students to be energized and think of themselves as inventors.