Intellectual property workshop
Intellectual property workshop
1 October 2025, 14h00 - 17h00
General context
IP profession and Biotech patenting for creating valuable outcomes of your research
Understanding intellectual property is essential for researchers aiming to protect and maximize the value of their scientific discoveries. This introductory course is designed for early-career scientists, such as PhD students, postdocs, and research support staff, who are beginning to engage with innovation and commercialization.
Participants will gain practical insights into the fundamentals of intellectual property, including how inventions are protected, what makes an idea patentable, and how intellectual property strategies can support research impact.
Through real-world examples and interactive discussions, attendees will learn how to assess the scope of an invention and navigate the patenting process. The workshop also includes perspectives from experienced intellectual property professionals, offering a glimpse into career paths in intellectual property in academia, industry, and law firms.
- Identify the key aspects of intellectual property relevant to scientific research.
- Recognize the involvement as a (VIB) scientist, and the criteria that determine whether an invention is patentable.
- Interpret the scope of an invention based on example patent claims.
- Compare different IP protection strategies and their implications for research valorization.
- Demonstrate how to perform a fundamental patentability analysis using real-world cases.
- Appraise and discover the role of IP professionals in academia, industry, and law firms through guided discussion.
This course combines short lectures with interactive discussions and case-based learning. Participants engage with real-world examples to explore patentability, invention scope, and intellectual property strategy.
The session includes input from experienced intellectual property professionals, encouraging active participation and reflection on practical applications.
Prior to this course, participants are required to complete a preparatory e-learning module to ensure a shared baseline of understanding.
Trainers
Griet Den Herder
Griet is a European Patent Attorney and IP manager in the VIB Innovation & Business team. With a Master's in Biochemistry, and PhD in Biotechnology, and postdoc-research in the area of plant-microbe interactions, her scientific background was complemented with corporate experience in Regulatory Crop Science and in CMC development of biologics. Being a member of the IP team now for over ten years positions her with sound knowledge of the IP portfolio and valorization tracks pursued at VIB
Program
- Getting familiar with the IP manager/ Patent attorney role
- IP Strategy at VIB I&B:
- What is an IP strategy, and why is it important?
- Patentability requirements
- VIB IP: How to get there? Invention 'scouting' and applying for a patent while creating a business case
- Procedural aspects of patenting
- Testcase and practical part:
- Patentability analysis:
- Defining the invention
- Practical assessment of patentability
- How to conduct a successful literature search?
- Protection scope and Claims
- Patentability analysis:
Practical info
01 October 2025
Ghent - VIB/UGent FSVM II
Technologiepark 75
9052 Zwijnaarde
Belgium
01 October 2025
Ghent - VIB/UGent FSVM II
From Ghent Sint-Pieters station, you can take a bus to Technologiepark. Please check Routeplanner De Lijn for schedules.
01 October 2025
Ghent - VIB/UGent FSVM II
Looking for a custom cycling route? Try the online cycling route planner to easily and quickly identify the fastest, safest and/or most scenic route to any destination in Ghent.
Cycling route planner
Shared bicycles:
Several providers are active in the area.
Take a look at their platforms:
- Indigo Weel Pro app
- Bluebike
- DOTT
- BOLT eBikes
- Donkey Republic
There are also some public bicycle pumps at the park.
01 October 2025
Ghent - VIB/UGent FSVM II
There is only one entrance to Technologiepark. At the entrance, please take a ticket - Parking is only allowed in regular parking spots (for instance in front of the building) and in the parking tower. Parking alongside the roads or in other places where there is no regular parking is prohibited.