Second prize for the SPTO in the IN'NOVA Minetur 2014 Awards

The Spanish Patent and Trademark Office (SPTO) received second prize in the IN’NOVA Minetur 2014 Award in the Institutional Projects category for the ALFA Electronic System for Managing Inventions.

This ALFA Electronic System for Managing Inventions is a tool for internal use for processing and registering applications for national patents, utility models, complementary protection certificates, topographies of semi-conductor products, international PCTs as well as European applications and European patent validations. It aims to provide the SPTO with tools to optimise the quality and efficiency offered to enterprises and citizens, simplifying and reducing paperwork where possible. This communication system is similar to that used by the Spanish Tax Office (AEAT) for downloading draft Income Tax declarations and is used by other patent offices such as the Swedish Patent and Registration Office (PRV).

Recognition for innovative solutions
The award was presented by the Under-Secretary for Industry, Energy and Tourism at an event on innovation held in the Ministry of Industry, Energy and Tourism (MINETUR). 
The IN’NOVA Awards aim to make known and acknowledge the efforts being made by units to devise and adopt innovative solutions for everyday use, as well as ideas that might be useful to others in the future. This year there were 46 candidates in the Institutional Projects category.

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