USPTO Patent Examiner Technical Training Program (PETTP)

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In a unique effort to bridge the gap between innovators and patent examiners, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) has launched a newly reformed educational series called the Patent Examiner Technical Training Program (PETTP) to help educate patent examiners on emerging trends and technical developments in the United States. Through this program, patent examiners will learn straight from experts in the field who have direct access to the country's new technologies and share their technical knowledge on prior art and industry standards with examiners. In a CONNECT interview with Wynn Coggins, Director of Technological Center 3600 and manager of the PETTP at the USPTO, Coggins reinforced the value of this collaborative program, stating "this initiative is the latest illustration of [the USPTO's] desire to collaborate with the stakeholder community to improve the patent system."

Opening the lines of communication between the innovators and patent examiners will not only provide informative training to the examiners, but also improve the patent office's customer interface with the innovation community it serves. Coggins explains "A well-trained workforce is a primary focus for us here at the Office; we feel strongly that by putting patent examiners together with the scientists and innovators doing the actual work in an educational environment where advances in the state of the art, emerging trends, and recent innovations in their fields can be freely discussed will result in more streamlined patent examination, fewer delays and quicker final decision."

The San Diego community is encouraged to participate in this program.

To participate, please email: Examiner_Technical_Training@uspto.gov
To read the full interview with Wynn Coggins, click here.
To read the official Federal Register Notice on the PETTP, click here.

“CONNECT commends the USPTO for resurrecting the Patent Examiner Technical Training Program. This educational forum is the perfect setting to increase awareness and knowledge of technologies that only innovators themselves can truly explain. Once patent examiners are armed with the knowledge they have gained through these seminars, they will be better equipped to make informed decisions. We hope San Diego's innovation economy will take advantage of this opportunity.”

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