The Technology and Innovation Support Center (TISC) is an international project supporting invention, innovation, and start-up projects, launched by WIPO in April 2009. The aim of the TISC project in each country is to create a network of Technology and Innovation Support Centers.
In Ukraine, the process of creating the TISC network was initiated by the signing on July 23, 2018, of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade of Ukraine and WIPO on the creation of Technology and Innovation Support Centers in Ukraine.
A Technology and Innovation Support Center (TISC) is a system of information, consulting, and legal support for inventors, innovators, authors, and creators through a developing network.
The main areas of activity of TISC are:
• conducting active educational activities on issues of law, intellectual property economics, and innovation;
• providing access to knowledge and patent information, providing consultations in the field of intellectual property law, etc.
Currently, the implementation of the TISC project falls within the competence of the Ministry of Economy of Ukraine and the Ukrainian National Office of Intellectual Property and Innovation (UKRNOIVI, IP Office), on the basis of which a department for the development of a network of technology and innovation support centers was created within the Department of Innovation Development (TISC IP Office Headquarters).
On September 20, 2024, a Memorandum of Cooperation was signed between Lviv Polytechnic National University and the State Organization “Ukrainian National Intellectual Property and Innovation Office” (Intellectual Property Office – IP Office) and an Institutional Agreement on the establishment and further operation of the Technology and Innovation Support Center (TISC) at Lviv Polytechnic National University, which is part of the national TISC network.
The Memorandum of Cooperation between UKRNOIVI and Lviv Polytechnic National University provides for the coordination of efforts in the field of legal protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights, technology transfer and commercialization of scientific research results, further active development of the TISC network, as well as assistance in building an innovative environment, professional training of specialists in this field, and promotion of conditions for the development of an innovative ecosystem.
The tasks of the Technology and Innovation Support Center are:
- to support and promote the activities of the TISC network in Ukraine in the field of analytical research on the implementation and commercialization of technologies, acquisition, use, and protection of intellectual property rights;
- to stimulate the development of innovation;
- holding thematic conferences, events, and organizing training courses, workshops, and seminars in the field of intellectual property and innovation;
- disseminating knowledge on the creation, legal protection, and commercialization of intellectual property objects (hereinafter referred to as IPOs);
- carrying out scientific and expert and scientific and advisory activities, analysis of IPR;
- providing users with access to patent databases and other sources of patent and non-patent information in the field of intellectual property for the purpose of conducting patent searches;
- promoting areas of development of intellectual property and innovation;
- facilitating the commercialization and transfer of IP;
- facilitating interaction between all participants in the innovation process.
TISC services:
Basic level – free services:
• providing access to patent and non-patent information resources;
• providing consulting assistance on the use of the above-mentioned information resources;
• assisting in organizing distance learning for TISC members under WIPO Academy programs
Additional free services
• provision of general information on intellectual property and innovation legislation, as well as regulatory and legal acts on the preparation and submission of applications for IP protection documents and maintaining their validity;
• consulting on searching for and obtaining technical information;
• training in search skills in specialized databases and other information resources in the field of intellectual property;
• provision of basic recommendations on the formation of license agreements;
• consulting on general issues related to the preparation and submission of applications (including electronic applications) for the issuance of IP protection documents;
• providing users with access to TISC hardware and software.