Vote for our PanelPicker® sessions August 10-26!
We need your PanelPicker votes to ensure intellectual property (IP) is part of the South by Southwest (SXSW) Conference conversation. From August 10-26, 2021, you can vote for the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) 2022 PanelPicker session proposals. Make sure you leave comments about what you’d like us to talk about, and share the details about the panels with friends. You can vote for more than one panel, and you can vote even if you don’t plan to attend SXSW.
SXSW crowdsources conference programming through the PanelPicker platform, and community voting counts for 30% of the panel selection decisions.
SXSW is a prime opportunity for the USPTO to highlight the importance of protecting intellectual property. Let SXSW know how vital IP protection is by voting for our four panels today!
- Vote for the USPTO's panels
- Leave comments or questions for us on the panel page
- Join the conversation on social media with #USPTOatSXSW
Strengthening the innovation ecosystem
A recent study by the USPTO found that women comprise only 12% of all inventors named on U.S. patents granted. Other studies have indicated that underrepresented groups have even less involvement in invention, innovation, and the funding and formation of startups. How do we tap into the strength of our nation’s diversity and increase access to STEM programs? How can early exposure to inventor role models inspire young, creative minds to innovate? How can we encourage more people to patent their ideas, trademark their brands, take risks, and engage in new and exciting sectors of the economy? It is imperative that we strengthen the innovation ecosystem and level the playing field so that all innovators, regardless of gender or background, may have the opportunity to change the world.
Panelists:
- Bismarck Myrick, United States Patent and Trademark Office
- Marian Croak, Google
- Lonnie Johnson, Johnson Research and Development Co., Inc.
- Jayme Cellitioci, National Inventors Hall of Fame
Patents & business: Begin with nothing but an idea
The good news is you have an idea for the next big thing. The bad news is all you have is an idea. How can you make sure no one steals your idea? What resources and skills do you need to bring your ideas to life? How do you create a marketable business out of intellectual property? Kavita Shukla, founder and CEO of The FRESHGLOW Co., and Supervisory Innovation Development Program Manager NaThanya Ferguson in the USPTO’s Office of Innovation Outreach will discuss the challenges startups face and the services and assistance available to help single inventors, micro entities, and small businesses better navigate their own journey of innovation.
Panelists:
- Kavita Shukla, FRESHGLOW Co.
- NaThanya Ferguson, United States Patent and Trademark Office
Build back better: Rebuilding through strong IP
Join the United States Patent and Trademark Office with AT&T, Phillips 66, and PepsiCo for an informational panel discussion on rebuilding yourself and your business through innovation and creativity. Leaders in intellectual property and infrastructure across the food and beverage, oil and gas, and telecommunication industries will provide insight on how to rescue, recover, and rebuild in 2022 and beyond. This discussion will feature company experts who will advise and educate the community on how to use available resources to help protect intellectual property and gain the knowledge needed to make informed decisions for entrepreneurial pursuits through innovation. This panel will discuss how each industry has been impacted and review the latest in technological advancements and business strategies.
Panelists:
- Drew Hirshfeld, United States Patent and Trademark Office
- Craig Stone, Phillips 66
- Brian Gaffney, AT&T
- Joseph Ferretti, PepsiCo, Inc.
Feeding the force: Army food trucks?
Is innovation the silver bullet to secure military strength and economic security? Why should the military care about disruptive innovation? Since the revolutionary war, the U.S. military has a long history of leading innovation. Texas Regional U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Director Hope Shimabuku, Christopher Buke and Robyn Metcalfe from the University of Texas at Austin, and Stephen Moody from Army Futures Command will discuss the crucial role of invention for the United States, and explore technology transfer and civil-military tech collaborations.
Panelists:
- Hope Shimabuku, United States Patent and Trademark Office
- Christopher Burke, McCombs School of Business, University of Texas at Austin
- Stephen Moody, U.S. Army Futures Command
- Robyn Metcalfe, College of Natural Sciences, University of Texas at Austin
About SXSW
The annual South by Southwest (SXSW) Conference in Austin, Texas, provides an opportunity for global professionals at every level to participate, network, and discuss economic and cultural issues. The wide range of participating individuals and organizations have one thing in common: they all work with intellectual property (IP).