Members of Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet’s staff today joined Colorado business and government leaders as they greeted Acting U.S. Commerce Secretary Rebecca Blank and Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) David Kappos, who are visiting Colorado following the announcement that the USPTO will locate an office in Colorado.
“Today’s visit by Acting Secretary Blank and Director Kappos marks the beginning of the next steps in the relationship between Colorado and the USPTO,” said Bennet. “The recent decision by the Commerce Department to open a new patent office in Colorado demonstrates that our state is a proven leader in innovation, technological development, research and economic growth. I look forward to continuing to work closely with USPTO as they begin the process of opening the new patent office.”
Last week, the USPTO announced it will open a new regional office in the Denver metro region by 2014. Bennet helped lead the effort among the Colorado Congressional delegation, business leaders, academia and local government officials to bring the patent office to Colorado.
Last year, he secured an amendment, cosponsored by Colorado U.S. Senator Mark Udall, in the patent reform law that empowers the USPTO to establish three new satellite patent offices across the county. Over the past year, Bennet led several letters from the Colorado Delegation to President Obama, USPTO Director David Kappos, and Commerce Secretaries Gary Locke and John Bryson, urging them to consider Colorado for a job-creating satellite office. The efforts have also been supported by Colorado’s veterans community, multiple business leaders, and Wyoming Senator Mike Enzi.
A report Bennet’s office, the Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation, and the Colorado business community compiled included an economic study that estimates a satellite office in Denver would bring hundreds of direct jobs and even more indirect jobs, as well as lead to economic activity totaling $440 million over the first five years of operation.