INPE Receives Patent Related to Fuel Cells

Hello reader!

It follows one communicates published on the day (01/19) in the website of the National Institute for Space Research (INPE)  informing that the INPE receives patent related to Fuel Cells.

Duda Falcão

INPE Receives Patent

Related to Fuel Cells

Thursday, January 19, 2012

The Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research (Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais – INPE) has received a Patent Certificate relating to the PI 0301417-7 entitled "Conjunto Capilar Recirculante para Células a Combustível", authored by researchers: Luís Antônio Waack Bambace, Clausio Junior Melo, Miriam Nishimori, Carlos Kuranaga, Fernando Manuel Ramos, José Roberto Sbragia Senna, José Angelo da Costa Ferreira Neri e Marcos Dias da Silva. The patent process began in 2003 and is valid for 20 years in Brazil.

Beyond this patent, INPE has two other related to fuel cells in progress. “These patents protect important concepts on fuel cells, which were used in a second generation and are being used in a third one,” said Luis Bambace, one of the inventors of the newly patented technology.

The fuel cell is a device capable of generating energy and has been developed due to the search for energy alternatives that satisfy the need to reduce environmental impacts. Among its applications are the electricity production and the use in transport, portable equipment and satellites.

According to Marco Antonio Chamon, president of the Center for Technological Innovation (Núcleo de Inovação Tecnológica – NIT) of INPE, patents are important to safeguard intellectual property generated from the investments that society makes in the Institute. “At the same time, it increases the technological capacity of INPE and its effectiveness indicators. The inventors benefit from the protection and formal record of their work and with the royalties,” he added.

Except the patent granted, INPE currently has 11 patent applications for invention (PI), two patent applications for utility model (MU) and two applications for computer programs registration in progress at the INPI (Brazil’s National Institute of Industrial Property). Also the brand name INPE has been recorded since 1977 and has recently extended its term of validity for the 4th decade.

Center for Technological Innovation

NIT/INPE was created in 2007 to manage the institutional innovation policy of the Institute, encourage training in management of technological innovation, intellectual property and technology transfer and stimulate the productive sector to participate in joint projects of technological capability, among other objectives related to the Brazil’s Law of Innovation guidelines.

The NIT is comprised of Marco Antonio Chamon (president), Nélia Ferreira Leite (vice president), Marcos Dias da Silva, Maria de Fátima Mattiello Francisco, Celso Benedito Ribeiro and João Ávila.

For more information visit: http://www.inpe.br/tec/nit/

Source: Website of the National Institute for Space Research (INPE)