As companies pursue technological progress and develop value-added products, patent attorneys must keep up with the advances and meet the demands of corporate customers, according to Sumiko Shimosaka, new president of the Japan Patent Attorneys Association.
"We want to respond to corporate needs by sending out patent attorneys who can cope with rapidly advancing technology and cover new fields, such as nanotechnology and biotechnology," she said.
Shimosaka, 68, assumed the top position of the association Tuesday, becoming the first female head of the group in its 81-year history. The body currently has about 5,200 members, although women account for less than 10 percent of the total.