As part of the ongoing work to promote innovation and creativity, the Ministry for the Economy and Industry launched the ‘Malta Intellectual Property Awards’ aimed at encouraging new ideas and the recognition of intellectual property through a €50,000 award fund.
The Permanent Secretary within the Ministry for the Economy and Industry Nancy Caruana remarked on the success of the previous edition which shed light on projects that vary from technological initiatives in relation to food production, scientific ones such as further development on 3D printer using innovative laser technology to even so in-shoe monitoring system for diabetes amongst others. ‘Such high-level projects augur well to the very concept of intellectual property in our islands that create further awareness amongst everyone to protect their products, designs, ideas and projects’, said Caruana.
Intellectual property refers to all products and works that are the fruit of the human mind and therefore plays a significant role in our daily lives. Rights accorded by the state in respect of intellectual property such as copyright, patents, trademarks and registered designs provide businesses, artists and inventors with a means to protect products and creations and also encourage them to invest in innovation and creativity to the benefit of society.
Matthew Pisani, the Director for the Registration of Industrial Property within the Commerce Department, referred to the work done by the latter on a European level, particulalry with the EUIPO office as well as within the Department, so much so that the Maltese Office for Intellectual Property was the first amongst other EU member states that has since started sending information in relation to trademarks and designs to EUIPO through a blockchain-based platform.
The Malta Intellectual Property Awards, run by the Commerce Department, are aimed at recognising and promoting the creation of Intellectual Property in Malta. The Award has four categories:
1. Award for Creative Initiative
2. Award for Scientific Initiative
3. Award for Technological Initiative
4. Award for Emerging Innovation Initiative
Guidelines for the awards may be found on www.commerce.gov.mt.
Applications will be received via email on ipawards@gov.mt from Monday 2nd August until Saturday 18th September.
Submissions are to be made on the relative forms which will be made available as from Monday 2nd August.
Source: Office of the Prime Minister