Some of the world’s most prominent thought leaders are coming together to take part in a discussion series called ‘Open Minds’, with the aim of supporting the development of Ireland as a global centre for science, technology and innovation.
A joint initiative from law firm McCann FitzGerald and Science Gallery, Trinity College Dublin, it will tackle issues facing Irish businesses in the science, technology and innovation sectors. It also aims to generate solutions and ideas that will grow Ireland’s reputation for innovative development.
The first keynote speaker in the series is intellectual property expert and author Prof James Boyle of Duke University in the US.
Boyle, who is the former chairman of the Creative Commons Board and co-founder of Science Commons, will deliver a snapshot of how he believes intellectual property works, and sometimes doesn’t work in the world of discoveries.
He will also outline how policies sometimes get in the way of scientific and technological innovation, actually harming businesses working in numerous fields, from genetics to IT.
The second part of the event will feature presentations by David Stopps, director of copyright and related rights for the Music Managers Forum UK and Ronan Loftus, co-founder of IdentiGEN Ltd, a provider of DNA-based solutions to the agri-food industry where they consider the impact of IP and copyright on their respective business areas. The session, moderated by RTÉ’s Pat Kenny, will discuss the future of copyright, IP and patents.
‘Open Minds – New Thinking on Science, Technology & Business’ starts on 12 May at 6pm at the Science Gallery, Pearse Street, Dublin 2.
