Research has repeatedly found that owning a patent helps inventors and entrepreneurs attract capital, turn their inventions into businesses, and create jobs. Yet Black, Latinx, and Indigenous people, women of all backgrounds, and individuals coming from low-income backgrounds are greatly underrepresented among inventors with patents.  

In this webinar, we will explore what we know about patent gaps, the obstacles to closing them, and the role universities can play in ensuring increased access and engagement for underrepresented groups across the innovation ecosystem.

We'll hear from experts on patent gaps, university technology transfer, and entrepreneurship in this engaging online session. Want to read more from our panelists before this webinar? Read Who Becomes an Inventor in America? The Importance of Exposure to Innovation, co-written by Alex Bell, and VentureWell reports on strategies to support IP development in universities and to advance equity in innovation and entrepreneurship.

October 7, 1:00pm-2:00pm Eastern

Moderated by Phil Weilerstein, President & CEO at VentureWell

Opening remarks from Holly Fechner, Executive Director of Invent Together and Partner at Covington & Burling LLP

Speakers

Alex Bell - Post-Doctoral Scholar at the California Policy Lab at UCLA
Jennifer Gottwald - Director of Licensing at Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation (WARF)
Lauren Gase - Senior Evaluation Analyst at VentureWell
Reamonn Soto - CEO of Sensatek Propulsion Technology, Inc. 

Thanks to Qualcomm and Invent Together for their support and collaboration on this event.