Understanding intellectual property benefits and rights has never been more important during a time of such historic innovation as COVID-19  vaccines.

Because of the pandemic, the fourth annual Intellectual Property Awareness Summit (IPAS 2021) is being held virtually this year, April 28-29.

​IPAS 2021 is an international gathering of IP owners, creators, educators, lawyers, students, organizations and investors, all with a common goal – to explore ways to make IP rights and their benefits meaningful to diverse audiences.

Lack of IP understanding impedes innovation and creative expression, discourages investment and induces theft.

IPAS 2021 will explore such topics as:

  • IP and entrepreneurship
  • Diversity and inclusion
  • How IP is taught in schools
  • The IP challenges and opportunities presented by China

Keynote speakers will be Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), ranking member of the Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Intellectual Property and former chair of the committee; and Hall of Fame inventor James West (Day 2).

IPAS 2021 hosts are the Center for Intellectual Property Understanding and the Kellogg School of Business, Center for Research in Technology and Innovation.

The program can be found at www.ipawarenesssummit.com.