July 18, 2023
WASHINGTON, D.C. – July 18, 2023 – Today, Invent Together and Qualcomm Incorporated released updates and enhancements to The Inventor’s Patent Academy (TIPA), a free online course that guides inventors through the process of turning their ideas into patented inventions.
Invent Together and Qualcomm created TIPA to help close the diversity gaps in patenting. The United States Patent Trademark Office (USPTO) and leading researchers have found that women, people of color, and individuals with lower incomes patent inventions at significantly lower rates than their representation in the population—and a lack of patent education is one of the reasons for the disparities. Launched just last year, TIPA has already enrolled about 1,200 students— of which 80% of voluntary survey respondents are from historically underrepresented groups. The USPTO's First-Time Filer Expedited Examination Pilot Program is using TIPA as a learning resource.
With the benefit of user feedback, Invent Together and Qualcomm have enhanced course content and functionality. The course is now mobile-friendly and more accessible. It also includes new voice narration, shortened learning capsules, and additional resource links. In addition, TIPA now features new inventor stories like that of Tiffany Norwood, a thriving Black inventor and serial entrepreneur who is known for her patent for a one-strap backpack and work on satellite radio, among many other ventures.
“The patent process can appear intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be, thanks to TIPA’s assistance,” said Sudeepto Roy, VP, Engineering, Qualcomm Incorporated, and TIPA program lead. “Demystifying the patent process is crucial in helping us reach our goal of increasing inventor diversity and showcasing the many benefits obtaining a patent offers inventors, like protecting their ideas and enhancing entrepreneurial success.”
“The goal of TIPA is to expand access to inventing and patenting, and when we do that, we open new doors to opportunities, spur further innovation, create jobs, grow businesses, close wage and wealth gaps, and strengthen the U.S. position as a global innovation leader,” said Invent Together Executive Director Holly Fechner. “One year after launch, we are seeing that we are reaching our intended audience, and the improvements to the course will continue to support expanded access to inventing and patenting.”
TIPA was developed by a team of patent-holding inventors, patent-law experts, and specialists in equity, diversity, and inclusion. To learn more about TIPA and access the platform, visit https://learn.inventtogether.org.
About Invent Together
Invent Together is an alliance of universities, nonprofits, companies, and other stakeholders dedicated to understanding the diversity gaps in invention and patenting and supporting public policy and private efforts to close them. Learn more at www.inventtogether.com.
About Qualcomm
Qualcomm is enabling a world where everyone and everything can be intelligently connected. Our one technology roadmap allows us to efficiently scale the technologies that launched the mobile revolution – including advanced connectivity, high-performance, low-power compute, on-device intelligence and more – to the next generation of connected smart devices across industries. Innovations from Qualcomm and our family of Snapdragon platforms will help enable cloud-edge convergence, transform industries, accelerate the digital economy, and revolutionize how we experience the world, for the greater good.
Qualcomm Incorporated includes our licensing business, QTL, and the vast majority of our patent portfolio. Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., a subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated, operates, along with its subsidiaries, substantially all of our engineering, research and development functions, and substantially all of our products and services businesses, including our QCT semiconductor business.
Qualcomm is a trademark or registered trademark of Qualcomm Incorporated. Qualcomm branded products are products of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries. Qualcomm patented technologies are licensed by Qualcomm Incorporated.
Qualcomm Press Contacts
Pete Lancia, Corporate Communications
Phone: 1-858-845-5959
Email:
corpcomm@qualcomm.com
Mauricio Lopez-Hodoyan, Investor Relations
Phone: 1-858-658-4813
Email:
ir@qualcomm.com
Invent Together Press Contact
Morgan Schreurs, Policy Director
Phone: 1-202-662-5362
Email: mschreurs@cov.com
