Business Development Opportunities Abound to Gather, Gain Friends, Grow Contacts

INTA’s Annual Meeting has always been an incredible opportunity for the intellectual property community to come together, network, and develop their business. This year’s hybrid 2021 Annual Meeting Virtual+, being held from November 15 to 19, is no different.

Business Development offerings will be plentiful during the virtual component of the Meeting, and organic networking opportunities hold great promise for making connections during the three in-person mini-conferences.

Throughout the five days of the virtual Meeting, registrants will have more than 150 virtual Business Development offerings to choose from—something for everyone, no matter their networking preference. Recognizing the global audience, all the Business Development opportunities will be taking place at different times throughout the week so registrants can join at their convenience.

Returning this year will be a robust Business Development tool: INTAconnect. A powerful AI-empowered appointment system and matchmaking tool, INTAconnect matches registrants based on their profiles and allows them to schedule one-on-one and group video meetings with new or old connections.

Premium Access and Early Access registrants can leverage INTAconnect beginning October 18 to scout out registrants and schedule appointments. This access in advance of the Meeting is just one of the reasons to register now, before Early Access closes October 1.

Celia Leber (Leber IP Law, USA) is among the thousands of registrants who got hooked on INTAconnect when it was first introduced at the 2020 Annual Meeting & Leadership Meeting. She had more than 40 meetings with new connections, a few of which, she said, “have led to productive business collaborations as well as new friendships.”

“I found INTAconnect very easy to use and a fantastic resource for making new connections. Unlike in-person INTA meetings, where I would typically meet primarily with people I already know, the INTAconnect platform allowed me to meet many new people,” Ms. Leber noted.

This year, INTA will also be bringing back crowd favorites, such as Table Topics and Speed Networking. More than 120 Table Topics on a broad range of subjects will be offered, with more than 20 of them hosted by corporate members. A limited number of spots are still available at almost half the Table Topic sessions. So, register now for the Meeting to grab a spot, or, if you have already registered, keep checking back in the registration portal for open seats and sign up before registration closes on October 29.

Over the course of the Annual Meeting, there will be daily Speed Networking sessions at various times of the day to accommodate registrants in different parts of the world. The eight one-hour sessions will feature a round-robin format, offering participants the opportunity to circulate among tables and grow their contact lists.

Virtual Speed Networking has proven to be a huge success over the past year, both during the 2020 Annual Meeting & Leadership Meeting and the 2021 Leadership Meeting, as well as at monthly stand-alone sessions.

INTA member Emmy Chow (Deacons, Hong Kong SAR, China) has been regularly attending the monthly Speed Networking events. “We have not been able to travel and meet colleagues in person, but thanks to INTA, we were able to build and grow our network via Speed Networking sessions and continue to connect offline with the contacts we have made,” she said.

Corporate registrants can also meet each other under a rebranded Corporate Circle (previously Corporate Meetups), exclusive to corporate registrants. During these sessions, participants will be able to interact with their global in-house counterparts in informal, small group discussions.

In addition, the Annual Meeting will host an array of virtual Social Networking opportunities under three themes: experiences, wellness, and tastings. At these gatherings, registrants can join fun activities with others, to start their morning or unwind at the end of the day. They can make connections while learning how to make a cheese and charcuterie board, or gambas al ajillo (garlic shrimp) and pan con tomate (tomato toast). For wellness, meet others in a ZUMBA fitness session or a bootcamp-style training class. And to relax further, join other registrants at tastings—of wine, craft beer, cider, and even olive oil.

In addition, animal lovers can share their furry friends with others on the screen during Pet Corner sessions on November 16 and November 18.

Throughout the week, registrants will be able to participate in some other ongoing activities around the clock. They can enjoy viewing photos, videos, and testimonials submitted by other peers in the Community Networking area. And the virtual INTA Café will be open 24/7, for impromptu meetings and some themed hours (think “Recipes,” for example)!

Lastly, no Annual Meeting would be complete without INTA’s lively receptions, and this year’s event is no different, even if the gatherings are virtual. Receptions include the Welcome Reception, regional receptions, and a Grand Finale DJ party.

Beyond all these Business Development activities, INTA’s new Brand Marketplace on the virtual platform offers the opportunity for registrants to read through materials to get to know the products and services offered by the Meeting’s sponsors and media partners. Platinum sponsors will also have a Brand Hub available in INTAconnect that will allow them to meet and chat with registrants throughout the Meeting.

On the other hand, the in-person mini-conferences in New York (November 16), Berlin (November 17), and Los Angeles (November 18), will feature a more organic type of networking. During lunch, breaks, and a reception, participants will be able to casually meet each other. Then, they can further meet up on INTAconnect and network at the planned activities during the virtual component of the Meeting.

Ultimately, whether virtually or in person, registrants can look forward to plenty of opportunities to build and strengthen their networks. All the Business Development activities will be conducted live. No recordings will be available post-event.

Registration for the 2021 Annual Meeting Virtual+ runs through October 29.

Although every effort has been made to verify the accuracy of this article, readers are urged to check independently on matters of specific concern or interest.

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