On Wednesday, April 23, the Council for Innovation Promotion (C4IP), UK Innovate, and the Kentucky Intellectual Property Alliance (KYIPA) hosted Congressman Thomas Massie (R-KY) and former U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Director and C4IP co-Chair Andrei Iancu for a discussion with local business leaders on the vital role of intellectual property in driving innovation across Kentucky.
Congressman Massie and Director Iancu participated in a fireside chat exploring the importance of strong IP rights in fostering innovation and how Congress can support a reliable and effective IP system both in Kentucky and nationwide.
The event also included a panel featuring Kentucky-based innovation leaders, highlighting the state’s diverse innovation landscape and its significant impact on economic growth and opportunity.
Check out our press release on the event, as well as additional photos and a recording of the roundtable, below!
Yesterday, I participated in “Blueprints for Innovation: Intellectual Property in the Bluegrass State," a forum hosted by @universityofky, the Kentucky Intellectual Property Alliance, and @Council4IP. I shared the stage with Andrei Iancu, former Director of @uspto. pic.twitter.com/l72EEY7DOF
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) April 24, 2025
Distinguished Guests and Panelists
Congressman Thomas Massie
- Member of the U.S. House of Representatives for Kentucky’s 4th district
- Member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, Artificial Intelligence, and the Internet
Andrei Iancu
- Co-Chair of the Council for Innovation Promotion (C4IP)
- Former Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) (2018-2021)
Ian McClure, J.D.
- Vice President for Innovation at UK HealthCare
- Associate Vice President for Research, Innovation and Economic Impact at UK Research
Mandy Decker
- Chair of KYIPA
- Patent Attorney with Stites and Harbison
Jeffery Langer
- General Counsel of Zoeller Co.
Terry Samuel
- President of Kentucky Science and Technology Corp.
Raechele Smalls
- Director of Invest Blue
Michael Murray
- Spears-Gilbert Associate Professor of Law at the UK J. David Rosenberg College of Law
Frank Cullen
- Executive Director of the Council for Innovation Promotion (C4IP)
- Former Vice President of U.S. Policy at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce