The ChIPs Network, the global community that promotes the advancement of women in technology, law, and public policy, has opened a new branch in the Iberian Peninsula. This regional section, focused on Spain and Portugal, is the eighth ChIPs chapter in Europe and joins existing chapters in Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom to connect women in the intellectual property field.
“ChIPs aims to bring together women working in the fields of law, intellectual property, technology, risk management, and regulatory compliance,” said Sara Nazaré, co-chair of the ChIPs delegation in the Iberian Peninsula. “There are so many brilliant professionals in Spain and Portugal, but we realized that there wasn’t really a space that connected us all as a single Iberian community. ChIPs Iberian Peninsula creates that bridge. It makes it easier for us to get to know each other, learn from one another, collaborate, and build relationships that we hope will last far beyond individual events.”
For Cintia Bernhardt, also co-chair of ChIPs Iberian Peninsula, the launch of this chapter comes at an opportune moment. “Europe is redefining its industrial and technological strategy, from the regulation of artificial intelligence to semiconductor manufacturing and the resilience of critical industries. In this context, the Iberian Peninsula is emerging as a strategic gateway for innovation, technology, and the life sciences,” she noted.
“More and more international companies are viewing Iberia as a single ecosystem rather than two separate markets, creating extraordinary opportunities for professionals working in the legal, intellectual property, technology, risk management, and regulatory compliance fields,” said Rais Amils, third co-chair of the regional chapter. “As Iberia becomes more connected, we expect ChIPs to be one of the communities that contributes to that connection.”
“We are delighted to establish a presence in Spain and Portugal. The need for a community that supports women in this field is a global phenomenon; seeing leaders drive and build a community from the ground up is very special,” said Joan Toth, executive director of ChIPs.
At the Edge: Leadership for an Intelligent Age
ChIPs Iberian Peninsula will welcome intellectual property leaders from around the world this autumn as it hosts the sixth annual ChIPs European Summit in Lisbon. The European Summit is designed to provide a space for leaders to network and gain specific knowledge about European intellectual property law. This year’s edition, taking place on November 19, will be themed “At the Edge: Leadership for an Intelligent Age.” The event combines Lisbon’s geographical location, at the western edge of Europe, with a reference to the Age of Discovery and the new stage we are entering: a post-informational and increasingly “intelligent” age.
