ChIPs launches Iberian Peninsula chapter for women in IP

ChIPs Network has opened a new chapter across Spain and Portugal, adding its eighth European chapter and broadening its network for women in intellectual property, tech, law and policy. The group will also bring its European Summit to Lisbon on Nov. 19 as it looks to deepen ties across the Iberian Peninsula.

Why it matters: - The new chapter gives women in Spain and Portugal a shared professional network focused on intellectual property, technology, law, risk and compliance. - ChIPs is expanding its European footprint as cross-border work in AI, semiconductors and life sciences becomes more important across the region. - The chapter is part of a broader effort to connect professionals across Iberia as one ecosystem rather than two separate markets.

What happened: - ChIPs Network opened a new Iberian Peninsula chapter covering Spain and Portugal. - The chapter is the eighth ChIPs chapter in Europe. - ChIPs now has European chapters in Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the Iberian Peninsula. - The new chapter is led by co-chairs Sara Nazaré, Cintia Bernhardt and Rais Amils.

The details: - Sara Nazaré said the chapter was created to connect women working in legal, intellectual property, technology, risk and compliance across Spain and Portugal. - Cintia Bernhardt said Europe is redefining its industrial and technological strategy, including AI regulation and semiconductor manufacturing. - Bernhardt said the Iberian Peninsula is becoming a strategic gateway for innovation, technology and life sciences. - Rais Amils said international companies increasingly view Iberia as a single ecosystem, creating more opportunities for professionals working across the region. - Joan Toth, ChIPs executive director, said the organization was delighted to establish a presence in Spain and Portugal. - ChIPs said the new chapter will host the 6th annual ChIPs European Summit in Lisbon this fall. - The European Summit is designed to give leaders a place to network and learn skills specific to European IP law. - This year’s summit is set for Nov. 19 in Lisbon. - The summit theme is “At the Edge: Leadership for an Intelligent Age.” - Passes are available on request. - ChIPs says it has more than 10,000 members in 30+ regional chapters across North America, Europe, Latin America, Asia-Pacific and Africa. - The organization says it advances and connects women in technology, law and policy. - ChIPs is open to all who share its mission. - ChIPs includes social links on LinkedIn and YouTube.

Between the lines: - The chapter launch signals growing demand for region-specific professional communities in sectors shaped by regulation and rapid technology change. - Lisbon hosting the European Summit underscores the city’s role as a gathering point for pan-European IP leadership. - The framing around Iberia as a single ecosystem suggests ChIPs sees more value in cross-border collaboration than in market-by-market networking.

What's next: - ChIPs Iberian Peninsula will welcome IP leaders to Lisbon for the European Summit on Nov. 19. - The chapter is likely to use the summit as its first major platform for relationship-building and regional visibility. - Future programming may focus on ongoing networking, learning and collaboration across Spain and Portugal.

The bottom line: - ChIPs is building a new regional hub in Iberia to connect women across two markets that are increasingly operating as one.