“Innovation” was the word of the day at an event featuring campus, business and national leaders in the robust areas of entrepreneurship and intellectual property on Jan. 29 at UC Irvine’s Beall Applied Innovation. “Orange County Innovation Ecosystem: How Strong Patent Protections Enable Our Country to Thrive” was created by the Orange County Business Council, the Council for Innovation Promotion and UC Irvine.

Speakers discussed how innovation can be nurtured, protected and advanced in Orange County and the nation in general.

In his opening remarks, Errol Arkilic, UC Irvine’s chief innovation officer, set the tone for the event. “Innovation is the economic engine of Orange County,” he said.

Matthew Hanson, director of new ventures at UC Irvine, added that the university plays a crucial role. “UC Irvine is a central part of the ecosystem of discovery that improves our lives,” he said.

Speakers included U.S. Reps. Lou Correa, Dave Min and Jay Obernolte; leaders from the Council for Innovation Promotion and the Orange County Business Council; and members of the UC Irvine “innovation ecosystem.”

Their message was consistent: Innovation and intellectual property protections have been the primary economic drivers in the United States, and a strong patent system is critical to financial success.

“IP drives innovation and discovery, and without it, we would not be an economic powerhouse and enjoy the quality of life that we do,” said Frank Cullen, executive director of the Council for Innovation Promotion.

“Orange County sits at the epicenter of innovation in medtech, healthcare, aerospace and other advanced industries that are shaping the future of our economy,” said Jeff Ball, president and CEO of the Orange County Business Council. “Strong patent protections are essential to sustaining that leadership, giving innovators the confidence to invest, scale and compete globally.”

Cullen reminded the audience that IP-related businesses have created 55 million well-paying jobs in the U.S.

But the support systems in place to foster innovation are under attack, other speakers stressed. Competition and intellectual property theft from countries like China are threats, and diminished federal research funding continues to undermine growth.

The key to overcoming these hurdles is to create and advance a nimble infrastructure to support discovery and startups, especially at the university level, some of the speakers noted.

With Beall Applied Innovation, UC Irvine fosters one of the best environments in the nation for researchers who seek to patent their discoveries, start companies, and secure seed funding from the campus and business communities. Proof-of-product grants, which help researchers overcome initial hurdles, are just one example.

And Beall Applied Innovation, which Arkilic leads, provides a fertile environment for these campus startups to connect with investors from local businesses.

In closing remarks, University of California Board of Regents member Richard Leib noted UC Irvine’s achievement in this area.

“American success is based upon research support at universities,” he said. “And UC Irvine is the best in the UC system to involve the business community in all of this.”