IP Forum
The Industrial Participation Forum
The Industrial Participation Forum was formed in Autumn 1999, on the initiative of British Industry. The administration of the Forum is jointly undertaken by the Defence Manufacturers Associations (DMA) and the Society of British Aerospace Companies (SBAC), with the DMA providing the Secretarial support.
The purpose in forming the IP Forum can be summarised as follows:
- To disseminate among its members reliable information concerning the MOD(UK)'s IP policy;
- The education of British lower-tier suppliers on the opportunities arising from IP;
- To ensure and encourage the dissemination of information as widely as possible within British Industry;
- To provide a forum for discussion of techniques for using IP as effectively as possible and to institute education in this as the members demand;
- To disseminate amongst its members up to date information on current IP obligations;
- To act as a central UK Industry lobby on IP matters, including: of offshore companies for concerted action on behalf of the membership, and of UK Industry on behalf of obligors;
- To promote potential business opportunities for British companies with foreign firms with IP obligations to MOD(UK).
The IP Forum will act as:
- a liason point for overseas obligors, to assist them in sourcing technologies from UK Industry;
- a dissemination point for Members on up to date information on current IP obligations;
- a dissemination point for Members on possible future IP business opportunities, based on forthcoming programmes, including opportunities for direct IP work in projects;
- an educational body to promote IP awareness to UK Industry;
- a networking organisation, for the sharing of knowledge and experience and experiences between Members.
The IP Forum will:
- organise Main Meetings for its Members, to which overseas obligors will be invited to attend and give short presentations on themselves;
- compile an on-line database of UK defence industrial capabilities, for access by obligors to assist them in identfying potential UK sources of technology;
- maintain an on-line database of current and potential future IP obligations for Members to access and identify potential business opportunities;
- organise Outward Trade Missions to visit IP obligors.