The Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys (CIPA) is dedicated to championing and supporting innovation in the United Kingdom and fostering a culture of creativity and growth. Our mission is to support our members in their pursuit of excellence and to actively contribute to the development of the intellectual property landscape nationally and internationally.
We do this through:
CIPA is dedicated to upholding the highest standards of professionalism and expertise among our members. Through continuous education, training and support, we empower our members to excel in their practice, providing unparalleled service to clients and contributing to the strength of the UK’s innovation ecosystem.
We actively engage nationally and internationally with policymakers, industry leaders and other stakeholders to shape policies that provide for effective IP law, foster innovation and protect the rights of inventors. By influencing legislation and regulatory frameworks, we aim to create an environment that stimulates creativity, attracts investment, and enables the UK to remain a global leader in innovation.
CIPA is a supportive community where our members can connect, collaborate, and share best practice and knowledge. Through networking events, conferences, and online platforms, we facilitate meaningful interactions that strengthen professional bonds, encourage the exchange of ideas, and foster a sense of unity among our members.
We strive to be at the forefront of promoting and protecting innovation in the UK. By fostering a collaborative environment between inventors, businesses, and the legal community, we aim to propel innovative ideas that drive economic development and societal progress. We safeguard the rights of inventors and creators, advocating for IP frameworks that ensure a fair and equitable legislative system.
CIPA is committed to promoting ethical practices within the IP professions. We advocate for transparency, integrity, and accountability, ensuring that our members adhere to the highest ethical standards in their interactions with clients, colleagues and the broader innovation community.
We believe in the power of education to create awareness and appreciation for intellectual property. CIPA actively engages in outreach activities to educate the public about the importance of innovation, intellectual property rights, and the role of IP professionals in protecting IP.
AI and other disruptive technologies will have a significant impact on the IP professions. We will lead the way in ensuring that our members are equipped to harness technological advancements, shaping the future identity of IP professionals.
With the UK’s ambitions for international trade at the forefront of the political agenda, IP occupies a position of key importance. We will ensure that IP remains front and centre of the politics of innovation and economic growth, and that the UK’s unique place in the European and global IP ecosystem is protected.
The IP landscape is changing, with the advent of the Unified Patent Court, the drive towards patent law harmonisation and the UK’s ambitious trade agenda. We will promote the UK profession nationally and internationally.
With changes in the regulatory framework, moving away from measuring hours of CPD and towards a more individualised model of ongoing professional competence, we will review and develop our learning activities to ensure these continue to meet the needs of our members.
Through initiatives such as IP Inclusive, much has been done to make the IP sector a diverse and welcoming place to work. We will continue to build on this work, ensuring that CIPA is an equitable, diverse and inclusive professional body.
Our members are becoming increasingly geographically dispersed, as firms establish themselves outside of London and other major cities and professionals are able to work more flexibly. We will review the ways in which we support members across the UK and develop new approaches to professional networking.
Sustainability is a key priority for IP firms and for CIPA as a professional membership body. We will work to ensure that CIPA takes a lead on sustainability, acting as a role model and disseminating best practice.
April 2024