Acting U.S. Commerce Secretary Rebecca Blank was in Denver, Colo. today to discuss ways to support innovation and create jobs, particularly through the protection of intellectual property. In the morning, Blank attended a breakfast hosted by the Colorado Innovation Network, where she spoke with local business leaders. She listened to their ideas and suggestions for how Commerce can better support them in their efforts to create jobs by encouraging innovation.
Later this morning, the Acting Secretary delivered remarks
and participated in a panel discussion on the key role that the patent
system plays in strengthening the local economy and driving U.S.
competitiveness at the University of Colorado-Denver Anschutz Medical
Campus. Also joining the panel were: Denver Mayor Michael Hancock; Under Secretary of Commerce for Intellectual Property and Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) David Kappos; University of Colorado-Denver Chancellor Donald Don M. Elliman Jr.; Robb Walt, co-founder of the Community Power Corporation; and Ali Ansary, co-founder of SeventyK. During the discussion, Blank noted some of the ways the Department of Commerce is supporting and fostering American innovation.
As
Blank mentioned in her remarks, over the years there have been millions
of groundbreaking U.S. patents for new inventions and discoveries that
have changed the world. For each of the past two years, USPTO has issued
over 200,000 patents–more than ever before. Acting Secretary Blank
cited a recent Commerce Department report showed that industries that
rely heavily on intellectual property protection support at least 40 million jobs–and
about one-third of our GDP. That report showed that these jobs pay
about 42 percent more than others. So a better patent system means good
jobs and stronger economic security for millions of middle class
families.
Acting Secretary Blank’s visit follows an announcement last week that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) plans to open a satellite office in the Denver area in an effort to help local businesses and entrepreneurs innovate and grow. The USPTO also plans to open satellite offices in the Silicon Valley, California, and Dallas, Texas, areas, in addition to the previously-announced office opening in Detroit, Michigan.
The
four USPTO satellite offices will function as hubs of innovation and
creativity, helping protect and foster American innovation in the global
marketplace, helping businesses cut through red tape, and creating new
economic opportunities in each of the local communities. The Obama
Administration is committed to making certain our businesses and
entrepreneurs have the resources they need to grow, create jobs and
compete globally.
Tomorrow, Acting Secretary Blank will
participate in the ribbon cutting at the grand opening of the first-ever
satellite USPTO satellite office in Detroit, Mich.
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