Shear Edge Managing Director Logan Williams recognised an issue in the oversaturation of waste in the wool and plastic industries. His work resulted in the world’s first woollen kayak, made of fully recycled materials, alongside a number of sustainably produced inventions. Logan is a keen inventor always on the lookout for a problem worth solving. In this episode of From Idea to Intellectual Property, he shares the complexities of the inventor process with host Lisa Leong. AJ Park Principal Dr. Hannah French provides insight on the role of patents in the inventorship process, and how intellectual property protection helps bring these big sustainability ideas to life.

“The internet? Nah, that will never catch on!” It’s been said before and will be said again, of the ideas that will change the world. What makes one idea fly and another flop and how does the patent system and IP process help and challenge inventors? In this episode ABC broadcaster Lisa Leong is in conversation with Dr Francis Gurry, IPH Strategic Adviser, unpacking the mysteries of the patent process and reflects on the big ideas that, at first glance, appeared unlikely to succeed but went on to change society and culture forever. From the origins of sound recording that led to the creation of a global music industry to new innovations with unknown impacts on society, the patent system provides a window into our past and our future.

Do you ever feel like your phone knows what you’re thinking? What if your computer could tell how you’re feeling? Or could a robot be your therapist? Emotion AI is an evolving technology, using algorithms to analyse how people feel through words, audio and video. From healthcare to chatbots to transportation, this episode unpacks the many diverse benefits Emotion AI might have on people and society. In this episode ABC broadcaster Lisa Leong is in conversation with Alice Tseng, a Principal at Smart & Biggar. They unpack how AI can analyse human emotion, and how it might respond to the needs of people, such as 24/7 therapy, detecting false insurance claims or even determining if someone is safe to drive.

As climate change accelerates, plant breeding programs are being used by agricultural businesses to develop plants that are able to cope, and thrive in, the changing environment. By engaging with the Intellectual Property system, breeders can generate a financial return on the investment they have put into those crops, incentivising the creation of plants which are suitable for a changing environment. As Dr. Nikki Templeton, Patent Executive at AJ Park explains to host Lisa Leong, a Plant variety rights (PVRs) or plant breeders rights (PBR) is one tool in the kit you can use to protect your variety.

The rising consciousness of women’s health is accelerating female-focused innovation and investment. With many established companies already creating waves in the Femtech space, the untapped potential for innovation is huge. Spanning all areas that affect a woman’s physical and emotional wellbeing, Femtech start-ups are thinking big about IP.  Unravelling the issues surrounding the right mix of protective mechanisms to enable safe manufacturing and scalability is what Spruson & Ferguson Principal, Allira Hudson-Gofers knows a lot about.

In the latest episode of From Idea to Intellectual Property, Spruson & Ferguson Principal Dr Gareth Dixon discusses how patents can be used to ”exploit” beneficial technologies related to cleantech, where the number of patents being applied for and granted is increasing exponentially. Finding the fastest route to commercialisation is a key talking point - providing a deeper dive into how to maximise the return on investment.

Scientists commenced mapping the human genome in 1990, and while we’ve come a long way since then, we’re really only just starting out on the journey of using genetic material to solve problems in medicine, manufacturing and agriculture. However, as Griffith Hack Principal Karen Sinclair explains to host Lisa Leong, since mapping genetic material went mainstream, getting granted patent protection for genetic sequences has become more complex.

World IP expert Dr Francis Gurry discusses the monetisation of sport, and explains how the sporting ecosystem, comprised of various rights including merchandising, trade marks,  branding, and broadcasting, relies on IP to ensure all parties receive an equitable share of revenue.