Established 25 years ago, Ingénieurs Conseils en Brevets (ICB) is a privately held company similar in structure to a regular private practice but whose share holder is the Swatch Group, possessing 100% of overall shares. As such, ICB primarily acts as the intellectual property function of the entire Swatch Group. The company currently employs nine patent attorneys, including four qualified European Patent Attorneys and a number of aspiring trainees. The personnel consist mainly of Swiss and French nationals but with the company atmosphere having a very international feel to it.
Approximately 80% of the work dealt with by ICB originates from the Swatch Group, and it is indeed the essential mission of ICB to protect the Swatch Group’s technical innovations, to promote its acquired technological knowledge, to uphold its market intelligence and to combat counterfeiting. The remaining 20% of ICB’s work originates from external clients not in the watch industry.
Swiss enterprise Belenos Clean Power Power Holding Ltd, active in the realization of new concepts in renewable energy, is one such client. Representing an exciting alliance between researchers and entrepreneurs, Belenos Clean Power was created in 2007 by the Swatch Group together with Hayek Engineering, Deutsche Bank, the Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology, the Paul Scherrer Institute, the Groupe E, the Ammann Group and George Clooney.
The Belenos concept relies upon the use of the sun as a principal source of energy. The various Belenos development programmes are based around the concept of capturing, storing and transporting this energy in order to optimise the efficiency of solar panels, produce hydrogen and oxygen using solar-produced current, and develop a new type of fuel cell.
In order to support their IP needs, there is a requirement to appoint a dedicated, commercially focused IP professional capable of progressively taking responsibility of the patent strategy and providing a transparent IP programme in growing a robust and competitive patent portfolio.
It is rare for a role of this nature to become available i.e. the opportunity to ultimately have complete responsibility for a business group in devising an IP strategy, managing the day-to-day tasks across a full-range of IP issues and being part of the future growth and success of the division. Furthermore, to be able to conduct such an entrepreneurial role within a global leading multinational corporation, which supports and fosters cutting-edge technology, is evidently an exciting prospect. While the work is currently being managed by external counsel seconded to the ICB team, it offers the appointee a ‘blank canvas’ on which to run the IP business.
This position is seen as a key appointment within the Company’s IP function and provides an exceptional opportunity for a dynamic and driven individual to influence and achieve considerable success and career longevity. There will also be the opportunity to expand the duties and responsibilities of the appointee to encompass other product areas within the Swatch Group, so as to provide further career enhancement. Swatch Group is a well respected industry leader and this appointment therefore offers excellent career potential for the right individual.
The successful candidate is likely to fulfill the following criteria:
If this position sounds of interest, please contact Sanna Kaskeala, Associate Consultant, or Kieron Wright, Director, for a further discussion and a full detailed assignment specification.
Approximately 80% of the work dealt with by ICB originates from the Swatch Group, and it is indeed the essential mission of ICB to protect the Swatch Group’s technical innovations, to promote its acquired technological knowledge, to uphold its market intelligence and to combat counterfeiting. The remaining 20% of ICB’s work originates from external clients not in the watch industry.
Swiss enterprise Belenos Clean Power Power Holding Ltd, active in the realization of new concepts in renewable energy, is one such client. Representing an exciting alliance between researchers and entrepreneurs, Belenos Clean Power was created in 2007 by the Swatch Group together with Hayek Engineering, Deutsche Bank, the Swiss Federal Institutes of Technology, the Paul Scherrer Institute, the Groupe E, the Ammann Group and George Clooney.
The Belenos concept relies upon the use of the sun as a principal source of energy. The various Belenos development programmes are based around the concept of capturing, storing and transporting this energy in order to optimise the efficiency of solar panels, produce hydrogen and oxygen using solar-produced current, and develop a new type of fuel cell.
In order to support their IP needs, there is a requirement to appoint a dedicated, commercially focused IP professional capable of progressively taking responsibility of the patent strategy and providing a transparent IP programme in growing a robust and competitive patent portfolio.
It is rare for a role of this nature to become available i.e. the opportunity to ultimately have complete responsibility for a business group in devising an IP strategy, managing the day-to-day tasks across a full-range of IP issues and being part of the future growth and success of the division. Furthermore, to be able to conduct such an entrepreneurial role within a global leading multinational corporation, which supports and fosters cutting-edge technology, is evidently an exciting prospect. While the work is currently being managed by external counsel seconded to the ICB team, it offers the appointee a ‘blank canvas’ on which to run the IP business.
This position is seen as a key appointment within the Company’s IP function and provides an exceptional opportunity for a dynamic and driven individual to influence and achieve considerable success and career longevity. There will also be the opportunity to expand the duties and responsibilities of the appointee to encompass other product areas within the Swatch Group, so as to provide further career enhancement. Swatch Group is a well respected industry leader and this appointment therefore offers excellent career potential for the right individual.
The successful candidate is likely to fulfill the following criteria:
- Possess an excellent educational background in Physics – specialist knowledge of material science and/or electro-chemistry would also be an advantage;
- Ideally fully qualified as a European Patent Attorney. A National qualification would also be an advantage;
- A minimum of 3 years experience within the patent profession. Candidates will be considered from both Industry and Private Practice;
- A sound commercial understanding of patents and their strategic relevance to the organisation.
If this position sounds of interest, please contact Sanna Kaskeala, Associate Consultant, or Kieron Wright, Director, for a further discussion and a full detailed assignment specification.