• The new Spanish Patent Law comes into force
• Publication of the SPTO 2016 Annual Report
• Fairs the SPTO is due to attend in May
• WIPO Summer Course in Madrid
• Exclusive allocation to certain Commercial Courts in Catalonia, Madrid and Community of Valencia of civil matters relating to Intellectual Property Laws

Fairs the SPTO is due to attend in May

This month we highlight the fairs that the Spanish Patent and Trademark Office (SPTO) is due to attend in May, enabling it to continue its job of promoting and disseminating Intellectual Property. The SPTO will be present with a stand and/or presentations.

But first, a reminder of the fair featured in the previous issue, the 45th International Exhibition of Inventions in Geneva, which takes place from 29 March to 2 April; the SPTO will be attending the fair as well as presenting an award for best Spanish invention.

4 to 6 May - INNOVA BARCELONA, International Exhibition of Innovation - Barcelona

The INNOVA fair, taking place this year in Barcelona from 4 to 6 May in L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, is one of the leading events in the field of Innovation, Research and New Technology.

INNOVA will be attended by more than 20 countries and provides a meeting point for institutions, research centres and businesses connected with innovation, as well as those keen to find out about new inventions, original prototypes or keep up to date with the latest advances in the field of technological innovation.

The SPTO will be attending with a stand and will be taking part in the programme of lectures.

10 May - Forum BEST Madrid- Madrid

The 6th Forum BEST Madrid will be held on 10 May 2017 at the School of Mining Engineering of Madrid.

Forum BEST Madrid is business forum resulting from the initiative of members of the BEST Madrid association, a unique Forum inside the Polytechnical University of Madrid organised for and by students from all the university faculties and aimed at all students of the university.

Its main aim is to bring together students, university and business, offering the possibility of spreading information about what goes on in a business or business school to graduates, students in the final stages of their courses and the university community. This is a superb opportunity for establishing direct and personal contact with all students attending the forum.

The SPTO will attend with a stand and will take part in the programme of lectures.

11 to 13 May - The Science Fair - Seville

The Science Fair is a meeting place for raising awareness about science. The 15th edition of this event will be held on 11, 12 and 13 May 2017 in FIBES, the Exhibitions and Congress Centre in Seville.

This purpose of this educational and cultural project organised by the Sociedad Andaluza para la Divulgación de la Ciencia (Andalusian Association for the Dissemination of Science), the Descubre Foundation and the Centro del Profesorado de Sevilla (Seville Teachers' Centre) is to exchange, disseminate and communicate scientific, technical and environmental knowledge.

The aims of the fair are to create an exhibition space where the world of research, schools and colleges, businesses, universities and the general public can meet and make their contribution to the development of scientific vocations by taking an active and practical approach to teaching and coming into contact with practising researchers.

The SPTO will be there with a stand and will be leading two workshops on Intellectual Property for ESO (secondary education) and Baccalaureate students.