Make more use of the 'green channel'

Intellectual Property Minister Baroness Wilcox has challenged firms to make more use of the ‘green channel’ designed to speed up the patent process for innovative eco-friendly ideas.

During a series of visits to companies in Surrey that are successfully using their IP to add value to their business, the Minister praised Gordon Murray Design for its use of the ‘green channel’. This has allowed the company to get its product off the ground faster and go on to produce low-cost, environment-friendly cars with body panels made from recycled plastic bottles.

Baroness Wilcox said: “It’s tremendous to see how an idea has been turned into an actual business product swiftly and efficiently. By using the ‘green channel’, an environment-friendly idea is being brought to market quickly, helping to deliver real value and growth to a typically inventive small British firm. Protecting your intellectual property and maximising its economic potential makes a real impact — especially for small companies that are the lifeblood of the UK economy.”