Under the patronage and attendance of Kuwait University President, Prof. Hussein A. AlAnsari, the Research Sector organized the “First Forum of Inventions at Kuwait University: Present and Future”, with the participation of a group of inventors who obtained patents registered through the Patent and Intellectual Property Office in the Research Sector. In the presence of the Chairman of the Trustees of the Sheikh Salem AlAli Informatics Award Sheikha Aida Salem AlAli AlSabah, the Vice Presidents and their assistants.
The forum aims to raise awareness in the field of patents and commercial marketing among professors and students of the university and various community institutions. It also aims to shed light on the opportunities and challenges faced by inventors in commercial marketing.
In a speech on the occasion, Kuwait University President, Professor Hussein AlAnsari, stressed that scientific progress and sustainable economic development is the product of scientific research, which focuses on finding the best innovative solutions to address the problems facing institutions of various types, public and private. Pointing out that scientific research is the main source for the development of new products through the registration of patents and the acquisition of intellectual property rights.
He emphasized the role of the leading university in the care of science, scientists and innovators. Kuwait University has developed its new strategic plan 2018-2022, which was recently adopted .The plan is in line with the latest developments and changes. It is based on proposals, ideas and visions of colleagues at the university, students and partners from outside the university and best practices in prestigious universities. The vision and mission of the university focused mainly on scientific research and innovation. It outlines the overall framework of the plan by adopting four main directions:
For his part, Vice President for Research, Jassim Y. AlKanderi said "It is my pleasure and honor to meet this morning to inaugurate the first forum of inventions at Kuwait University to enlighten the Kuwaiti society with a group of distinguished researchers who have demonstrated their intellectual performance and their scientific specialization in their various disciplines. Today we meet with them to emphasize together that the development of any nation and progress is made only by the hands of its people when they make an effective contribution to the building of its future and expansion”.
He added: “There are nations who care about the future, think about it, plan it, and work for it. These are the living nations that live history, are aware of its movement and work for it. it makes education an issue of national security, it is the sponsor of its survival and its sponsor for its future and its place in human history”.
He pointed out that the Research Sector at Kuwait University seeks to give real attention to this aspect through field visits to scientific colleges to get acquainted with the research needs and problems that the college may suffer from if any and will complete these visits in the current semester. Reviewing and evaluating regulations related to scientific research, developing research performance, supporting and financing research projects, with the aim of providing more legislation and facilities for researchers from faculty members. The hard work of marketing the patent of distinguished colleagues from the faculty members to confirm the realization of the principle of "knowledge economy", which in turn achieves the principle of scientific research and development. Also emphasizing the legislations and rules that guarantee the intellectual property rights and patents of the faculty members at Kuwait University.
For her part, in a speech on this occasion, Assistant Vice President for Research and External Research Cooperation Prof. Laila Maarouf: "We are meeting today at the first Kuwait University of Inventions Conference to formulate specific recommendations on how to develop cooperation and coordination around a common goal that brings together the successful marketing of inventions."
She added: "We are primarily seeking to support the production of innovative inventions, as well as focusing on the practical development of those inventions that have not yet been used. We believe that the distinction between these two categories lies in inter-institutional partnerships of interdisciplinary and multi-disciplinary areas, with different parties uniting around one common goal. "
The forum included a panel discussion on the opportunities and challenges faced by inventors in commercial marketing and presentation of inventions through modern means of presentation participated by Prof. Laila Maarouf, Assistant Vice President for Research, Mr. Richard Litman, Founder of the US Patent Office, Mr. Peter Morris, Purchasing Manager, Oxford International Innovation and Consulting, UK, and Mr. Ibrahim AlKanderi, General Manager, National Fund for Small Enterprises.
Followed by a commercial marketing workshop for inventions by Mr. Pete Morris, Consultant at Oxford International Innovation and Consulting.
The inventors reviewed their patents as follows:
By: Prof. Ahmed AlHashem, College of Pharmacy, Prof. Maryam H. Youssef, Prof. Samuel Kombain, Prof. Ivine Idafygo.
By: Prof. Milad Baitar, Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine- Prof. Fahad AlMulla.
By: Prof. Imtiaz Ahmed- Dr. Mohammed AlFailakawi- Eng. Areej Hamouda.