Vermont gov hopeful proposes office of innovation

By JOHN CURRAN

WILLISTON, Vt.

Saying there's an inventor "behind every tree" in Vermont, gubernatorial candidate Susan Bartlett said Thursday she would establish a state Office of Innovation and Intellectual Property if elected.

The Office of Innovation and Intellectual Property, which would be in Montpelier, could provide loans and grants to help inventors get patents and develop business plans to market their ideas, Bartlett said.

Bartlett, a longtime state senator from Lamoille County, is one of five Democrats in the Aug. 24 primary election for governor. The others are Secretary of State Deb Markowitz, state Senate President Pro Tem Peter Shumlin, state Sen. Doug Racine and Google executive Matt Dunne.

She floated the innovation emphasis in announcing a jobs plan for the state, saying Vermont has more patents per person than all other states, but the government could do more to help get ideas to market. Obtaining a patent for an invention can take years and cost as much as $20,000, and that discourages people.

"What we have failed to do as a state is say, 'Boy, this is our strength.' We haven't taken the next important step," Bartlett said. "This is a way to produce lots of jobs, lots of capital, long-term and all over the state."

Whether the innovation is in renewable energy, weatherization programs to make homes more energy-efficient or sustainable food systems, the state could take money it's already spending on economic development and use it to hire a few specialists in intellectual property who would then train people in Vermont's regional economic development centers, she said.

"If Vermont becomes the center for and the place that everyone thinks of as innovation and intellectual property and growing really good jobs, then our young people are going to want to stay here. People that are away or interested are going to want to move to Vermont because it's going to be the place to be," Bartlett said.

She announced her plan at a news conference at ipCapital Group, in Williston, a consultant that specializes in intellectual property strategy.

Bartlett also took aim at presumptive Republican nominee Brian Dubie, saying he has a 10-point economic plan but he hasn't unveiled it and doesn't plan to until after the Democrats' primary. Vermont residents deserve to hear it now, Bartlett said.

"What is Brian Dubie waiting for?" she said.

Dubie campaign spokeswoman Kate Duffy said the plan will be released in the next few weeks and not necessarily after the primary election.