Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today urged the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to consider Rochester as a site for a satellite office. New York State is the second highest patent issuer in the nation, with Rochester specifically known for its renowned reputation in higher education, providing New York with an abundance of creative minds. A USPTO Rochester office would cultivate a workforce of well-paid patent examiners, and foster the region’s reputation as an intellectual property (IP)-savvy area of the nation, as well as allow New York to strategically protect and leverage its valuable IP on a national and global scale.
“Protecting intellectual property is vital to our economic security, and a Rochester office would be a great opportunity for New York to capitalize on its valuable IP, and secure a strong economic future for the state,” said Senator Gillibrand. “Not only would the office create good jobs, it would empower the region to continue its commitment to attracting high-tech companies, supporting small businesses, and educating students in the areas of study that foster innovation and entrepreneurship to drive the economy.”
“We are excited at the prospect of being considered as a location for a USPTO satellite office” said James Senall, president of High Tech Rochester, a local venture development organization. “The Rochester region has been a national leader in innovation for more than 100 years, and consistently ranks near the top of just about any innovation category, including patents per capita. In addition, our region has an incredibly high quality of life, and low cost of living. Our national reputation as an emerging entrepreneurial hotspot is growing, and having the USPTO present here would be a perfect fit!”
In an effort to increase U.S. economic competitiveness, the USPTO has taken several steps to improve operational efficiency, including opening satellite offices. New York State is the second highest patent issuer in the nation, having submitted 65,260 patents from 1999 to 2009. The Greater Rochester Area is home to several premier colleges and universities, many with top-tier science and engineering programs whose graduates are uniquely positioned to enter a competitive workforce.
In a letter to Commerce Secretary John Bryson, Senator Gillibrand noted that New York would be a logical location for the office given its prominent IP community, active entrepreneurial and business efforts, proximity to distinguished research institutions, and burgeoning high technology market.
Full text of Senator Gillibrand’s letter to U.S. Commerce Secretary Bryson:
Dear Secretary Bryson,
I write today urging you to consider the City of Rochester in New York State as a site for your next U.S. Patent and Trademark satellite office. In New York, we are working hard to build a strong and sustainable economy based on attracting technology businesses, developing clean and renewable energy resources, and supporting our entrepreneurs and small businesses.
As part of our agenda to increase U.S. economic competitiveness we must strategically aim to protect and leverage the nation’s valuable intellectual property (IP). The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s (USPTO) initiatives to improve operational efficiency, reduce backlog, and modernize our patent system have been critical to achieving this goal.
The Rochester region has become globally recognized as a premier site for innovative, high technology companies. Based on a recent analysis by Forbes Magazine, Rochester is one of the most innovative cities in the country and ranks 5th for patents per capita. Rochester is also a center for higher education, as home to some of the nation’s top colleges and universities, including University of Rochester and Rochester Institute of Technology. The area is also home to industry expertise in fields such as energy innovation, biotech and life sciences, food and beverage manufacturing and optics and imaging.
New York State has some of the country’s highest numbers of issued patents as well as practitioners living and working in the states, all of which makes New York an ideal location for a USPTO satellite office. You will find that our engineering and science programs are second to none, and that geographic proximity, cost of living, and advanced expertise in the technology fields will meet and exceed your needs at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
I ask that you please give this your full consideration. If you have any questions, or desire further information, please do not hesitate to contact my staff member Jon Cardinal at (202) 224-4451.