This service covers all aspects concerning patents and is aimed at all EIC beneficiaries wishing to protect an innovation. Patent protection can be sought by filing, a) applications for national patents in single states, and b) applications for a European patent, or an international PCT patent, or a Eurasian patent, or a patent in African countries belonging to the OAPI or ARIPO organisations. SIB’s patent attorneys can support clients directly for Italian, European and international PCT patents and concerning all other countries by collaborating with foreign associates. 
Service includes:

 i) Landscape searches and Freedom-to-Operate searches to have access to up-to-date information on the global state of the art in the client’s technological area and on the innovation activities of its main competitors and avoid infringing third party patents. 

ii) Drafting and filing patent applications with the Italian Patent and Trademark Office, with the European Patent Office and under the PCT. 

iii) Patent prosecution includes reporting official searches and/or official communications and drafting responses, paying maintenance fees, oppositions, appeals, requesting unitary effect for European patents, validating a European Patent after grant in the designated states, entering into national/regional phases for a PCT patent, etc. 

iv) Preparing and filing Italian and European plant variety applications. 

v) Drafting licences or knowledge transfer agreements. 

vi) Patent valuations. 

vii) Recordals (assignments, licences, mergers, security rights, changes of name, changes of address, incorporations, surrenders). 

viii) Assistance and advice on validity and infringement problems. 

ix) Development of a corporate patent strategy. The duration varies depending on the activities required.