PTO seeks to speed climate-related tech innovations

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) is launching a novel pilot program to prioritize climate-related patents, allowing applicants to apply for special status for their climate-related innovations in a bid to bolster technologies that could help combat climate change -- such as technology to advance electric vehicles. “This is part of our ongoing efforts to incentivize innovation--including in key technology areas like climate change--and maximizing that innovation’s widespread impact by reducing greenhouse gas emissions,” says Kathi Vidal, undersecretary of...