IRVINE, CA (January 29, 2026) — Today, Thursday, January 29, from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM PT, the Council for Innovation Promotion (C4IP), the University of California, Irvine, and the Orange County Business Council (OCBC) will bring together Members of Congress, academics, local policymakers, business leaders, and innovation experts for a discussion on the state of innovation in Orange County.
The in-person event, “Orange County Innovation Ecosystem: How Strong Patent Protections Enable Our County to Thrive,” will be held at The Cove at UC Irvine Beall Applied Innovation.
Panelists will examine the region’s innovation ecosystem — from the role of academia and industry in translating research into market-ready solutions, to the importance of reliable, pro-innovation policy frameworks, and the ways strong intellectual property (IP) protections drive high-tech investment and economic growth.
Featured panelists and special guests include:
- Representative Jay Obernolte (CA-23)
- Representative Lou Correa (CA-46)
- Representative Dave Min (CA-47)
- David Kappos, former Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and co-Chair of the Council for Innovation Promotion (C4IP)
- Andrei Iancu, former Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and co-Chair of the Council for Innovation Promotion (C4IP)
- Richard Leib, Chair Emeritus and Current Board Member of the University of California Board of Regents
- Errol Arkilic, Chief Innovation Officer of UC Irvine
- Jeff Ball, President and CEO of the Orange County Business Council
- Frank Cullen, Executive Director of the Council for Innovation Promotion (C4IP)
“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. OCBC serves as the voice of the business community in these sectors and as a regional convener—connecting industry, policymakers and education partners like UC Irvine to ensure our innovation ecosystem continues to thrive.”
With strengths across life sciences, biotechnology, software, and clean energy, Orange County has emerged as one of the nation’s leading innovation hubs. That success is not accidental. Strong IP protections give innovators the confidence to take risks and provide investors with the certainty needed to back early-stage ideas. Statewide, research and development activity supported by IP rights helps sustain more than 700,000 high-paying jobs across California a year.
“Regional leadership in innovation depends on alignment across academia, industry, and public policy, with strong IP protections providing the foundation that turns ideas into investable, market-ready solutions,” said Errol Arkilic, Chief Innovation Officer of UC Irvine.
“What’s possible when strong patent protections, world-class research institutions, and private investment work together is on full display in Orange County,” said Frank Cullen, Executive Director of C4IP. “We’re grateful to Representatives Obernolte, Correa, and Min and the local leaders joining us for this discussion. Their leadership is critical to ensuring the region continues to attract investment, drive innovation, and deliver benefits far beyond Southern California.”
About the Council for Innovation Promotion: The Council for Innovation Promotion is a bipartisan coalition dedicated to promoting strong and effective intellectual property rights that drive innovation, boost economic competitiveness, and improve lives everywhere.