Strategic Insights: Key Considerations for In-House IP Management

Intellectual property (IP) can be used to protect a company’s business, to obtain revenue for future R&D, and to promote open innovation through collaboration and partnership. As technological and economic landscapes continue to shift, IP strategy is evolving, becoming more creative and diverse. While there is no one-size-fits-all approach to IP, we can gain valuable insights by learning from one another.

In this CHIZAI (IP) seminar, we are thrilled to host four distinguished experts from a variety of sectors and jurisdictions, who will share their unique perspectives.

The first part will feature Michael Pierantozzi from Andiamo Associates, who will provide an overview of strategies to create value through IP. In the second part, we will hold a panel discussion. Alongside Michael Pierantozzi, Jason Loh from Piece Future, Naoko Sakuma from FUJIFILM, and Nobuo Tanaka from Yokogawa Electric will present a playbook for in-house IP teams. They will discuss how to protect and accelerate business growth, translate innovation into revenue by leveraging IP assets in transactions within ecosystems, and drive innovation through collaboration with partners such as startups. With extensive experience in leading IP strategies at multinational corporations, innovative startups, and SMEs, the speakers will offer invaluable insights. This seminar presents a unique opportunity to learn from global experts, including those from the US, Japan, and Singapore.

Pease join us! This is a free online event.

* Our online webinar is held via Zoom.

Date

Tuesday, November 12, 2024 from 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm (PST)

*Wednesday, November 13, 2024 from 10:00 am – 11:30 am (Japan Time)

Schedule

5:00-5:05pm (PST): Opening

5:05-5:30pm: Presentation “Creating Value through Innovation and Intellectual Property - Insights from Silicon Valley” by Michael Pierantozzi

5:30-6:25pm: Panel Discussion and Q&A (all of speakers)

6:25-6:30pm: Closing

6:30-7:00pm: Virtual Networking

*Optional. You are welcome to remain online to have discussions with other participants.

Speakers (alphabetical order):

Jason Loh, Founder/Managing Director of Piece Future, Ltd.

Michael Pierantozzi, Board Member at LES-SVC; Founder, Principal Strategist, Andiamo Associates, LLC

Naoko Sakuma, Corp. VP/GM/Head of IP division, FUJIFILM

Nobuo Tanaka, Head of Intellectual Property & Design Center at Yokogawa Electric Corporation

Speakers’ Profile:

Jason Loh

Founder/Managing Director of Piece Future, Ltd.

Jason Loh is a leader at the intersection of innovation and business growth, dedicated to driving enterprise success through the strategic use of intellectual property (IP). A firm believer in the power of intangible assets, Jason specializes in crafting brand and growth strategies that align IP with core business objectives. He serves as the Director of Singapore's International IP Commercialisation Council (IIPCC) and is the Executive Adviser for Asia at the UK’s Institute of Innovation Knowledge Exchange.

Jason fosters innovation-driven ventures as Managing Partner of both i2P Ventures, a startup incubator, and True Vine Capital Partners Pte Ltd. His career includes a 16-year role as Head of Panasonic’s IP group in ASEAN. He later founded Piece Future, an Asian IP investment bank positioned as a key player in the IP innovation ecosystem, offering IP-centric business solutions to multinationals and startups alike. At Piece Future, Jason introduced Valuation360, a market-driven patent valuation system that evaluates IP's market, technology, and legal potential.

Jason is also the visionary behind IPHatch®, the world’s first IP-focused startup incubator program. It has expanded to over 10 locations globally, including the UK, Japan, Singapore, and Hong Kong. Under his leadership, Piece Future has invested in more than 70 startups since 2017, accelerating innovation and growth through IPHatch®.

Additionally, he has been recognized as an IAM 300 Strategist for the past ten years, highlighting his expertise in IP strategy.

Michael Pierantozzi

Board Member at LES-SVC; Founder, Principal Strategist, Andiamo Associates, LLC

Based in Silicon Valley, Michael Pierantozzi is a technology and intellectual property (Tech/IP) entrepreneur, strategist, and transaction advisor. He is the founder and the principal of Andiamo Associates, a management consulting firm specializing in tech/IP business catalyzing and monetizing matters. Michael brings more than 20 years of tech/IP executive management experience spanning consulting and on-staff leadership roles at Andiamo, KPMG, Hewlett-Packard Company (HP), Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), Intellectual Ventures (IV), IPotential, and an IP data services startup. Since 2009, Michael has been recognized by Intellectual Asset Management (IAM) Magazine in their annual IAM 300 rankings as one of the "World's Leading Intellectual Property Strategists." He frequently speaks at IP industry events (in the US, Europe, and Asia) and at IP strategy and management seminars at Stanford University (e.g., Stanford Center for Professional Development (SCPD) and the Engineering, Business, and Law Schools). Michael serves on the Board of Directors for the Licensing Executive Society-Silicon Valley Chapter (LES-SVC) and the Advisory Board at Silicon Catalyst, Intellectual Property Ontario (IPON), and deep tech startups (e.g., ScaleIP, Diamond Quanta, etc.). Michael holds an MS in management science and engineering from Stanford University. He also holds a B.S. in mechanical engineering from Drexel University.

Naoko Sakuma

Corp. VP/GM/Head of IP division, FUJIFILM

Naoko Sakuma is the General Manager of Intellectual Property Division, and the General Manager of Intellectual Property Legal Group of FUJIFILM Holdings Corporation. Her IP career started in 2006 when she joined Intellectual Property Legal Division of FUJIFILM Corporation. Since then she has been dealing with various IP related legal matters such as contract work, negotiation, licensing in/out, and disputes resolutions, then in 2021, when the 2 major IP divisions in FUJIFILM group, FUJIFILM Corporation and FUJIFILM Business Innovation Corp that is former FUJI Xerox Corporation, were merged into one IP organization, she was appointed as the GM of the whole IP division and its legal group of FUJIFILM Holdings. Her educational background is law, Bachelor of Law, Kyoto University, and IP LL.M at London University, University College London.

Nobuo Tanaka

Head of Intellectual Property & Design Center at Yokogawa Electric Corporation

Nobuo Tanaka is a Senior General Manager, Head of Intellectual Property & Design Center, at Yokogawa Electric Corporation. Mr. Tanaka is responsible for all Yokogawa company’s IP-related activities, including patent prosecution, licensing, as well as design-related activities, including experience design and product design.

Mr. Tanaka joined Yokogawa in 2019. Since then, Mr. Tanaka drastically transformed IP function to be strategic. For example, Mr. Tanaka revised internal IP regulations and IP-related parts of the management accounting, to implement a unified IP strategy more smoothly for Yokogawa Group.

Between 2009 to 2019, Mr. Tanaka was with Sony Corporation and Sony Corporation of America, chiefly responsible for utilizing patent assets, managing teams responsible for patent licensing, including joint licensing programs. Before Sony, Mr. Tanaka was with NEC Corporation where he worked on patent licensing and prosecution. Mr. Tanaka is a Japanese patent attorney, holding a BS and an MS from Kyoto University.