The Inventor's Patent Academy

Welcome to The Inventor's Patent Academy!

This completely free e-learning course will help you understand the patenting process and prepare you to apply for a patent of your own.

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Why Patents?

A patent can change your life, an entire industry—the whole world. Patenting is the best way to protect your inventions and is a crucial part of creating a better ecosystem of innovation for all inventors.

What to Expect

This free course is divided into three 2-3 hour learning modules and is presented in short, digestible lessons that can be completed at your own pace. The course will teach you how to patent your own inventions and prepare you for potential challenges on your patent journey.

Expertly Made

Invent Together and Qualcomm Incorporated created TIPA to give you the tools and knowledge you need to patent your inventions and give insight into the patent system. It features real inventors and was made by patent holders, patent practitioners and innovation experts like Bernard Greenspan & Erin Kelley. TIPA is linked on the USPTO website as a resource for patent education.

Where We Are

TIPA is Nation-Wide
Note on Status of Engagement: “Established” means the program is already in place and actively engaging TIPA learners. “In Progress” means we have started the engagement with the partner, but the program is not yet fully in place, and “Future Plan (FY26) means we have identified the partner and are preparing to engage by early FY26.
  • Alabama
    Oakwood University
    University | Established
    Pro Bono Advisory Council
    Industry Partner | Established
  • California
    California Intellectual Property Alliance (CAIPA)
    Industry Partner | Established
    California State University San Marcos
    University | Established
    Cuyamaca College
    University | Future Plan (FY26)
    Greenspan IP Management
    Industry Partner | Established
    Michelson Institute for Intellectual Property
    Industry Partner | In Progress
    MiraCosta College
    University | In Progress
    Navy SBIR
    Military | Established
    Palomar College
    Community College | Future Plan (FY26)
    San Diego Miramar College
    Community College | Future Plan (FY26)
    San Diego State University
    University | Established
    University of California San Diego
    University | In Progress
    University of San Diego
    University | Established
  • Georgia
    Battle For Success
    Education Partner | In Progress
    Georgia Institute of Technology
    University | Established
    Global Intellectual Property Alliance (GLIPA)
    Industry Partner | Established
    Morehouse College
    University | In Progress
    Spelman College
    University | In Progress
  • Massachusetts
    Lemelson-MIT
    Education Partner | Future Plan (FY26)
    New England Invents
    Education Partner | In Progress
  • North Carolina
    National Association of Community College Entrepreneurship (NACCE)
    Industry Partner | In Progress
  • Minnesota
    University of Minnesota
    University | Future Plan (FY26)
  • Ohio
    Ohio K-12 Schools
    K-12 | Future Plan (FY26)
    The University of Akron
    University | Future Plan (FY26)
  • Texas
    Houston Community College
    Community College | Established
    Texas Accountants and Lawyers for the Arts (TALA)
    Industry Partner | Established
    The University of Texas at Dallas
    University | Future Plan (FY26)
  • Vermont
    Center on Rural Innovation (CORI)
    Industry Partner | Established
  • Virginia
    Old Dominion University
    University | Established
  • Washington DC
    American Association of Community Colleges (AACC)
    Industry Partner | In Progress
    AUTM
    Industry Partner | Established
    CI Squared (CI2)
    Industry Partner | Established
    Covington
    Legal/Advisory Partner | Established
    Heather Metcalf, Ph.D., Managing Dir. of Research, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship, WEPAN (Independent Partner)
    Education Partner | In Progress
    Research 2 Impact
    Research Partner | Established
    Women In Engineering ProActive Network (WEPAN)
    Industry Partner | Established
  • Washington
    Hexalign
    Education Partner | Established

Note on Status of Engagement: “Established” means the program is already in place and actively engaging TIPA learners. “In Progress” means we have started the engagement with the partner, but the program is not yet fully in place, and “Future Plan (FY26) means we have identified the partner and are preparing to engage by early FY26.