Interpacs Health Solutions, a developer of innovative solutions in healthcare technologies, has successfully completed its strategic project carried out under the support of the Middle Black Sea Development Agency (OKA) and the coordination of Hitit University TTO Inc. The comprehensive six-month process of consultancy, analysis, and training served as a benchmark application, highlighting the critical role of Intellectual and Industrial Property Rights (IPR) in the export phase.
The project, coordinated by Burcu Kabakdere, Assistant Manager of Hitit University TTO and a TÜBİTAK Technology Transfer Professional, meticulously analyzed the company’s expansion into the Dutch and German markets. Freedom to Operate (FTO) analyses were conducted for both hardware and software products to assess potential patent infringement risks. With a total of four FTO reports and four comprehensive market research reports prepared for these two countries, the company’s legal and strategic entry into the European market was fully secured.
At the conclusion of the six-month consultancy period, a customized "IPR Roadmap" was developed for the firm. This strategic document serves as a comprehensive guide, not only for protecting existing products but also for positioning future technologies in the European market as patents, trademarks, or trade secrets. Furthermore, training sessions provided to management and employees covered key topics such as Basic IPR, Invention Disclosure Form (IDF) preparation techniques, and the management of employee inventions. These sessions, led by Burcu Kabakdere, significantly enhanced the staff's competency in protecting, documenting, and strategically managing R&D outputs.
To disseminate the project’s outcomes on a regional scale, the "Intellectual and Industrial Property Strategies Panel" was organized through the collaboration of OKA, Hitit University, Hitit University TTO Inc., and Çorum Teknokent. The program and content of the panel were also designed by Technology Transfer Professional Burcu Kabakdere. During the panel, the strategic role of R&D in the journey from "patent to market" was discussed, and company officials shared their first-hand experiences. The event played a vital role in transferring project insights to other regional firms and raising awareness of intellectual property.
Implemented through the training and consultancy activities of Burcu Kabakdere under OKA support and Hitit TTO coordination, this project stands as a robust example of university-industry collaboration. It once again underscores that intellectual property management is a strategic tool for sustainable growth and competitive advantage in the global market.
