Nashville, TN — Launch Tennessee announced the formation of the Tennessee Intellectual Property Alliance (TNIPA), joining the national network of US Intellectual Property Alliance, an organization dedicated to providing leadership and resources to make the United States a global model for education and awareness of intellectual property and related issues.
TNIPA, a strategic initiative supported by the Tennessee Technology Advancement Consortium (TTAC), will promote the economic and social well-being of Tennessee citizens by fostering technological research and development and creating economic activity through intellectual property.
“TTAC’s mission is to translate more university research from the lab to the market,” TTAC Director Charles Layne said. “TNIPA will play a vital role in this by mobilizing the state’s intellectual property ecosystem to support and educate Tennessee research institutions in advancing their intellectual property portfolios.”
Intellectual property is the foundation of innovation and a key driver of economic growth, Acting Director of TNIPA Kristen Johns said.
“By launching this alliance, we’re positioning Tennessee to be a leader in IP development and commercialization, which will benefit our state’s businesses, entrepreneurs, and citizens,” she said.
Johns brings a wealth of experience in intellectual property law and leadership positions in innovative ventures prior to launching the TNIPA, and she is committed to fostering a thriving IP ecosystem in Tennessee.
TNIPA will focus on three strategic objectives:
- IP Awareness & Education: Increasing understanding of intellectual property rights and their importance among businesses, entrepreneurs, and the general public.
- IP Ecosystem Collaboration: Fostering partnerships between academia, industry, government, and other stakeholders to create a robust IP ecosystem in Tennessee.
- IP Diversity & Inclusion: Promoting diversity and inclusion in the IP field to ensure that all Tennesseans have the opportunity to participate in and benefit from innovation.
The alliance plans to implement a range of programs and initiatives to achieve these objectives, including educational workshops and networking events.
“A strong intellectual property ecosystem is essential for an innovation economy,” LaunchTN CEO Lindsey Cox said. “TNIPA will help unlock Tennessee’s innovation potential by nurturing startups and encouraging collaboration with the state’s thriving R&D activities.”
For more information about the Tennessee Intellectual Property Alliance and its initiatives, please contact Kristen Johns at kristen@launchtn.org.
Launch Tennessee contact:
Chloé Morrison
Communications Director, Launch Tennessee
Chloe@launchtn.org