13 May 2026

What a chemist needs to know about Patents 2026

Organised by:

SCI, London, UK

Synopsis

Intellectual Property (IP) is one of the major outputs of all Research and Development (R&D) organisations, yet remains an area most scientists are unfamiliar with. SCI’s Young Chemists’ Panel in collaboration with UK-based patent attorneys and litigators, EIP, will hold this one-day workshop to introduce patent law and IP to those with a scientific background.

Attendees

This event will bring together R&D and legal staff covering a broad spectrum of industries and is particularly relevant to those who wish to learn more about patents and IP in their field. This highly successful event has proved popular with previous attendees and speakers alike, as a chance to gain insight into the world of patents and IP from leading professionals in their field.

Programme

Wednesday 13 May

09.00: Registration and refreshments
09.20: Introduction and welcome
09.30: What is a patent?
What is a patent, how do you get one, who owns it, how long does it take, how long does it last, what rights does it give you and what does it all mean?
10.00: Inventorship and ownership of patents
Who should be included as an inventor of a patent? Issues relating to ownership of patents and the importance of inventorship and experimental records
10.30: Patentability before the patent office
What is a patentable chemical invention? What are the requirements for patentability?
11.00: Refreshment break
11.30: Patentability when you are in court
Litigation case studies of patent validity
12.00: Patent filing strategies; a pharmaceutical industry perspective
Relative strengths of patents; strategies to cover your product's unique selling point; how to decide which countries to seek protection; building a patent portfolio for optimum effect
13.00: Lunch
14.00: Patent specifications and chemical claims
How to read and interpret a patent specification. Patents as a source of information. Varieties of patent claims used in a chemical context. Timing of patent filings for optimising protection and value
14.40: Infringement and enforcement
How to proceed when your patent is infringed - or you are accused of infringing. What constitutes patent infringement? Strategies to avoid infringement. Unitary Patent
15.20: Patenting in China
How does the Chinese patent system differ from the UK, US, and Europe? What are the key steps in securing a patent in China, and how should applications be prepared for the Chinese market? Practical insights into navigating the Chinese IP landscape from a UK-based Chinese patent attorney
15.50: Refreshment break
16.20: US patent litigation
What happens when a patent is litigated in the US and how you can prepare now for when your patents are litigated. Discussion of the duty to disclose relevant information to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office when obtaining a U.S. patent
17.00: Patent litigation from an in-house perspective
Before litigation: monitoring for infringement/infringers; how your (written) past may come back to haunt you & discovery; dealing with experts; managing multi-country litigation
17.40: Networking reception

Sponsorship and exhibition

For further information and prices, please email conferences@soci.org.

Accessibility Grants

SCI accessibility grants are available to support SCI members with disabilities, long term health conditions, those who require a carer, and members who are nursing parents to attend SCI events. Download an application form to apply for a grant.

Venue and Contact

14/15 Belgrave Square
London
SW1X 8PS

Conference Team

Tel: +44 (0)20 7598 1561

Email: conferences@soci.org

Booking Process/Deadlines

Booking terms and conditions

CPD Info

All delegates attending this meeting are able to claim CPD points.

Organising committee

Darren Smyth, EIP
Dominik Reich, Nxera Life
Matthew Southern, Sygnature Discovery