News story

IPO launches One IPO transformation programme

Today, IPO outlines the details of its ‘One IPO’ Transformation - a five-year programme to transform IP services and enhance the value IPO adds to the UK economy.

Transforming

The One IPO transformation programme will not just replicate and modernise IPO’s current processes, systems and services. It will completely transform the way they are delivered to make the most of modern digital technology.

The centrepiece of the programme is a single, integrated system for all registered IP rights (patents, trade marks and designs). This will allow creatives, innovators and businesses to seamlessly apply for, manage and research all of their IP rights in one place. Having more efficient digital services will allow us to provide new services in the future, not just helping people to protect their ideas, but empowering them to use and commercialise their IP.

Explaining the reasons behind the transformation programme, IPO CEO Tim Moss said:

At the IPO our ambition is to be the best IP office in the world. We know that our customers value our first-class culture and customer service, which already sets us apart. However, we also know that we do not meet our goal of excellent IP services, and our customers rightly expect more as the world we live in becomes increasingly digital by default.

Our transformation programme is our pledge to up our game – to deliver excellent IP services that meet the needs of our customers. To achieve that we will not replicate what we do now, but completely transform the way we deliver services. This will not only result in more modern, flexible, digital services, but also opportunities to explore new services to help our customers protect, research and use their IP more effectively, reinforcing the UK’s place as a global innovation and IP leader.

We know that helping our customers helps the UK economy, and we are passionate about playing our part to help both build back better.

Amanda Solloway – Minister for Science, Research and Education’, lent her support to the plans, saying:

Intellectual Property (IP) is essential to making the UK the most innovative and creative country in the world. It is fuel to unleash innovation and creativity; to help British businesses build back better following the pandemic. The UK already has a world leading IP environment, but a service for innovators must itself innovate.

The IPO’s transformation plans will improve public access to and delivery of IP services for everyone. Our vision is to provide the world’s best IP environment, whilst delivering fast, flexible and high quality digital services that remove barriers to innovation and make IP rights more accessible and useful.

By providing businesses and citizens with the tools they need to harness the power of IP we can incentivise investment, safe-guard assets and enable knowledge sharing. Through improved use of IP, we will enable Britain to forge an unbeatable competitive advantage and create firm foundations for sustainable economic growth.

Full details of the One IPO Transformation have been published in our Transformation Prospectus. A virtual transformation event will also be held at 11am to midday on 12 May 2021 where you will have the opportunity to put your questions about IPO’s transformation to the leaders of the programme.

IPO will also be running a series of user testing sessions to get feedback from customers throughout the programme. If you’d like to get involved contact usertesting@ipo.gov.uk to take part in user testing.

Updates to this page

Published 22 April 2021