21/02/2024
The week of 18-24 February is Engineers Week in the United States – one of the largest STEM events in the United States. Although I am writing this article from the UK, the creativity and hard work of engineers has an effect which extends far beyond the borders of any one country and is something to be celebrated!
Technologies that we routinely rely upon would not be possible without engineers – from travel (whether by train, plane, bus or car) to the mobile phones that now seem so essential to everyday life. Many of the innovations embedded in these technologies are, in turn, protected by intellectual property rights, such as patents to protect new products or processes.
So, the world of engineering and intellectual property overlap with each other. This overlap feels particularly relevant to me. Although I now work as a patent attorney here at Reddie & Grose LLP, my first job after a degree in aeronautical engineering was as an engineer in the nuclear power generation industry, during which I qualified as a Chartered Mechanical Engineer. My role included ensuring the structural integrity and safety of some of the UK’s first nuclear power stations – the so called Magnox stations. Although built in the 1960’s, these power stations were once regarded as being at the cutting edge of technology. The last of the Magnox stations was decommissioned in 2015, but some of their locations will be home to new power stations whose designs will include innovations from current and future generations of engineers.
The change of profession from engineer to patent attorney was not as radical as you might think. An engineering or science degree is a prerequisite to become professionally qualified as a patent attorney in many countries. Plus, the professions of engineer and patent attorney each require an ability and willingness to understand new technical concepts. I have been lucky enough to have worked with engineers in protecting innovations in diverse sectors such as consumer products, metal packaging, aero-engines and even nuclear power generation. In many respects, my career as a patent attorney has overlapped with my earlier career as an engineer and the subject of my first degree.
So, to those thinking about what opportunities a degree in engineering may bring, the answer is many! – whether in engineering (as a mechanical engineer, electrical engineer, civil engineer, or chemical engineer…to name but a few), or in related fields (such as my current profession as a patent attorney).
This article is for general information only. Its content is not a statement of the law on any subject and does not constitute advice. Please contact Reddie & Grose LLP for advice before taking any action in reliance on it.
