In a significant move to bolster Jordan’s knowledge-based economy, the University of Jordan hosted a pivotal workshop aimed at educating its academic community on transforming research into protected intellectual property. The virtual session, titled “Patents: From a Research Idea to a Protected Invention,” attracted 165 faculty members, researchers, and graduate students, signaling a strong appetite for innovation within the institution.
The workshop is the second installment in the university’s “From Creativity to Entrepreneurship” series, organized by its Center of Excellence for Learning and Teaching.
From Lab To Market
The session was led by Professor Dr. Faleh Al-Sawa’ir, the university’s Vice President for Accreditation, Global Rankings, and Sustainability. He provided a practical roadmap for converting academic findings into commercially viable assets.
The workshop focused on empowering participants to distinguish between patentable inventions and other research outcomes. It emphasized how securing patents can unlock new avenues for funding, forge strategic partnerships with industry players, and ultimately lead to the launch of knowledge-based spin-out companies. This initiative aligns with the university’s broader strategy to deepen the real-world impact of its research and connect it to national development priorities.
Navigating The Patent Landscape
Participants received a detailed overview of the core principles of patent protection, including novelty, the inventive step, and industrial applicability. Professor Al-Sawa’ir clarified the critical differences between research outputs that can be legally protected and those that do not qualify for a patent.
A key focus was on balancing academic imperatives with commercial goals, offering guidance on how to align scientific publishing schedules and research grants with the patent application process to ensure intellectual property rights are not compromised. The workshop also shed light on Jordan’s national framework for patents, outlining the role of the Directorate of Industrial Property Protection at the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Supply.
Fostering A Culture Of Innovation
Beyond the legal and procedural aspects, the session explored foundational concepts to cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset. It clarified the distinctions between an idea, an invention, and an innovation, highlighting that creativity generates ideas while innovation transforms them into valuable, applicable solutions.
The discussion also delved into the importance of creative, critical, and design thinking as essential tools for developing human-centric solutions that can successfully transition from concept to market adoption. By emphasizing that patent protection is a gateway to licensing opportunities and industry collaboration, the university is actively building a pipeline from academic discovery to economic impact.
About The University of Jordan
The University of Jordan is a public university located in Amman, Jordan. Founded in 1962, it is the largest and oldest institution of higher education in the country. It is widely regarded as Jordan’s premier university and is ranked among the most prestigious academic institutions in the Arab world.
Source: Talabanews
