April 2026 | Bulletin num.187 |
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The Spanish Patent and Trademark Office (OEPM) celebrates World Intellectual and Industrial Property Day
The celebration of World Intellectual and Industrial Property (IP) Day every April 26 reminds us of the importance of protecting the results of scientific research and technological development. The IP ecosystem safeguards the rights of all creators and innovative companies, enabling humanity’s constant progress. Under the slogan “Ready, set… innovate!”, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) has turned the spotlight on sports, which can stir passions in every corner of the world. The Spanish Patent and Trademark Office (OEPM) has joined this important celebration by organizing an event that demonstrated how industrial property drives innovation in the field of sports, helping to extend the benefits of research findings to the general public. The event, held at the headquarters of the Spanish Olympic Committee (COE), began with remarks by the president of this iconic institution and host of the event, Alejandro Blanco, who emphasized the importance of focusing on the less visible aspects of sports. Behind every major sporting event lies an entire ecosystem of legal protection and scientific research that works tirelessly to keep alive the excitement and passion of so many people around the world. Following the presentation by Francisco Javier Núñez, CEO of WiemsPro—a company that has developed a bio-suit capable of measuring multiple parameters during athletic activity with the aim of optimizing athletes’ performance—it became clear how industrial property rights are redefining the boundaries of athletic performance. This Spanish SME has created a prototype that collects a large amount of data. This data is analyzed using Artificial Intelligence, which allows for a series of conclusions aimed at improving athletes’ performance. Among its many advantages are the ability to design personalized training programs for each athlete, prevent injuries, and reduce recovery time. WiemsPro has been able to monetize its investment in the development of the bio-suit thanks to protection through industrial property rights, thereby enabling this innovation to extend beyond elite sports and extend its benefits to the general population. This was followed by a roundtable discussion in which participants shared how their commitment to protected innovation served as the catalyst that allowed them to gain a competitive advantage and differentiate themselves in the market. Víctor Alfaro, CEO of Podoactiva, was clear from the very beginning of his entrepreneurial journey that investing in technological innovation would be the path to success. And time has proven him right, as Podoactiva has become one of Spain’s leading companies in health, wellness, and sports innovation, with numerous patents in its portfolio. Representing the academic community, Leonor Gallardo, professor at the University of Castilla-La Mancha and director of IGOID SPORTEC, participated in the discussion. Gallardo highlighted the strong research capacity of Spanish universities, while also pointing out the need to bring the results of all that research to market. Rounding out the panel was entrepreneur and vice president of the Spanish Association of Manufacturers and Distributors of Sporting Goods, Mar Peire, who highlighted the great strategic value of intangible assets. “When it comes to negotiations, industrial property rights serve as proof of a company’s financial stability and reliability,” she stated. To conclude the event, the director of the OEPM, Elisa Rodríguez, reviewed the strong state of the industrial property sector in Spain, which has seen an increase in the number of applications across all categories, with notable growth in trademarks, patents, and industrial designs. She also highlighted the OEPM’s commitment to the quality of the services it provides and set the reduction of processing times as a goal for the organization’s future. More information
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