PATENT and trade mark experts have welcomed a new centre that helps entrepreneurs protect and exploit their ideas.

The British Library gave its Business and Intellectual Property Centre a fanfare launch in London on Wednesday.

The event, called Discover the Entrepreneur Within, attracted leading entrepreneurs, business leaders and Government representatives. It aims to help business people in Kent, Medway and the rest of the UK.

The Institute of Trade Mark Attorneys (ITMA) and the Chartered Institute of Patent Attorneys (CIPA) are both contributing to the new centre.

In a joint statement, Stephen James, president of ITMA, and Michael Harrison, CIPA president, said: "We are confident that this will prove to be a most valuable resource for budding entrepreneurs and innovators.

"Intellectual property in its various aspects of trade marks, patents, designs and copyright forms an important often neglected asset for many companies."

They went on to urge all businesses, whatever their size, to take full advantage of the centre’s "excellent" facilities.

"This is an initiative that deserves to succeed," they added.