Umbria and Innovation: Beyond IT, the Design of Industrial Products
The Umbria Chamber of Commerce is actively committed to promoting a dialogue on the topic of innovation and its protection, aware of the crucial importance of this issue for the development of the region. The President of the Chamber of Commerce, Giorgio Mencaroni, highlighted that many Umbrian companies do not register their trademarks, often discouraged by bureaucratic procedures considered complex and costs considered high. However, Mencaroni points out that significant progress has been made to simplify procedures and that the costs of registering a trademark, on average 800 euros, are not prohibitive.
Umbria is late in terms of innovation, often perceived only in terms of IT. However, innovation includes many other elements, including shapes, such as the design of industrial products. In 2022, only 53 patents were registered in Umbria, a decidedly low number.
To address this issue, the Umbria Chamber of Commerce organized an important conference entitled “Form beyond form – Innovation and protection in the world of industrial property”. The event saw the participation of a variety of professionals, including jurists, urban planners and architects, who offered ideas of great interest.
In the afternoon, a round table was held, moderated by the lawyer. Marco Bianchi, in which experts from outside the world of law also participated. Among these, Prof. Paolo Belardi, Professor of Architectural and Urban Composition at the University of Perugia, explained what design is and how it was born; The Eng. Andrea Margaritelli, brand manager of Listone Giordano, illustrated the value of design for an entrepreneur and how design is a real sensorial experience; The lawyer Federica Santonocito clarified how the law can attempt to intercept the protection needs of the company; The Eng. Maurizio Baldi, industrial property consultant, provided clarifications on the tools through which, in practice, the company can protect the design; Dr. Giuliana Piandoro, director of the Umbria Chamber of Commerce, provided statistical data on the patents filed in Italy and Umbria in recent years, as well as illustrated what financing is available to companies to protect intellectual property.
