IP Requirements for Safeguarding MedTech Innovation
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IP Requirements for Safeguarding MedTech Innovation
Thu, 26/03/2026 - 11:00 to 12:00
Location:
Speaker:
Heather Reiffer & Dr Claudia M Duffy
Affiliation:
HGF Limited & Innovare IP
Synopsis:
The MDMC is delighted to bring you this upcoming webinar introducing intellectual property (IP) and its vital role in enabling MedTech innovators to protect and advance their innovation. The session will begin by introducing both registered and unregistered forms of IP protection, including patents, trademarks, copyrights, design rights and trade secrets, with a particular focus on how these IP rights apply to medical devices and healthcare technologies. The webinar will also explore patents in more detail, outlining what a patent is, what can be patented, and how MedTech start-ups and spinouts can strategically utilise patents to safeguard their inventions as they seek collaboration and investment opportunities.
In the second part of the webinar, the focus will shift to practical strategies for IP commercialisation. You will learn how to determine and assert ownership of the IP developed by founders and contractors/consultants for start-up or spin-out, as well as methods for mapping the IP onto a company’s products and services. The session will discuss common commercial pathways, including partnerships between companies and universities, collaborative research arrangements, and technology transfer. It will also explain the role of licensing agreements, including what licences are typically required to develop, manufacture, or distribute MedTech innovations.
By the end of the webinar, you will have a clearer understanding of how IP protection and commercialisation strategies work together to support successful MedTech innovation.
This webinar will be hosted online on Microsoft Teams, with a link provided following registration.
Biography:
Heather Reiffer is a UK and European Patent Attorney based in Edinburgh, specialising in intellectual property protection and patent strategy for start ups and SMEs. With a background in Biomedical Engineering, she works closely with inventors and businesses developing innovations across a range of technology sectors, having particular expertise in medical devices and bioengineering technologies. At HGF, Heather advises a broad spectrum of clients from university spin outs and start-ups to multinational companies on how to protect, manage and commercialise their IP. Her work includes drafting and prosecuting UK, European and international patent applications, conducting patentability and freedom to operate assessments, and developing commercially focused IP strategies that support investment and market entry.
Dr Claudia M Duffy - A former Scientist, turned Patent Attorney and IP Entrepreneur, Claudia has 10 years’ experience as a Research Scientist (in Munich and Cambridge), over 17 years’ experience as a Patent Attorney in both in-house (for 2x Cambridge University spin-outs from her former PhD Group) and private practice roles (in London, Cambridge and Edinburgh) and over 7 years’ experience as an IP Entrepreneur, being the founder of Innovare IP, a full-service practice of patent and trademark attorneys and IP consultants working with entrepreneurial communities (in Scotland and the South-East of England), investors, accelerators and university research commercialisation offices. With a strong focus on IP Commercialisation and strategic IP advice, Claudia also acts as IP Consultant for commercial and corporate solicitors. She has also spent 1 year working in university technology transfer in Edinburgh.