The initiative of the Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property (IPI)  to support innovative start-ups and SMEs with free assisted patent searches in April and May 2020 was a huge success. More than twice as many customers wanted to take advantage of this helpful service than the average in recent years.

 

However, the economic crisis triggered by the pandemic is not yet over, and SMEs and start-ups are still facing a stiff challenge. Therefore, the IPI would like to continue supporting them in this situation, which is why it is offering assisted patent searches und assisted patent landscape analyses until 31 December 2020 for CHF 100 instead of CHF 300.

 

The IPI's assisted patent searches provide entrepreneurs with an important basis to decide on the next steps they can take with regard to their idea or invention. Ideas without potential can be discarded, while promising inventions can be pursued. In this way, the IPI supports visionary entrepreneurs in advancing their innovations.