Pritzker proclaims October 2026 Illinois IP Month ahead of ILIPA event

Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker has proclaimed October 2026 Intellectual Property Month, and the Illinois Intellectual Property Alliance will mark it with a free celebration Oct. 29 in Chicago. The event is meant to connect inventors, creators, lawyers and industry leaders around innovation, IP protection and commercialization.

Why it matters: - Illinois is using Intellectual Property Month to spotlight how patents, trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets support innovation, entrepreneurship and economic growth. - The proclamation also underscores Illinois' effort to strengthen its innovation ecosystem through education, collaboration and commercialization. - The Oct. 29 gathering is designed to bring together people across education, industry, law and the creative economy.

What happened: - Gov. JB Pritzker proclaimed October 2026 as Intellectual Property Month in Illinois. - The proclamation was signed at the Capitol in Springfield on Sept. 29, 2026. - Illinois Intellectual Property Alliance and Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law will host the Illinois IP Month Celebration on Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026. - The event runs from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, 375 East Chicago Avenue in Chicago. - Admission is free, and registration in advance is required. - The event includes dinner and drinks.

The details: - This is the fourth consecutive year Pritzker has proclaimed October as Illinois Intellectual Property Month. - This is also the fourth consecutive ILIPA IP Month Celebration. - The 2026 theme is “Inventors and Creators x the IP Ecosystem.” - The program opens with a kickoff and three panel discussions. - The evening closes with a celebration dinner and networking. - The three panels focus on K-12 creators and inventors, innovation and creative expression, and protecting and advancing IP. - The first panel will highlight early opportunities for students to learn about intellectual property and develop new ideas. - The second panel will feature inventors and creators from industry, entertainment and the arts. - The third panel will examine IP protection, portfolio valuation, the value of IP and emerging IP technologies. - Erwin Cruz, ILIPA chair and event co-chair, said the celebration honors the people and ideas moving Illinois forward. - Cruz is a Northwestern Law alumnus and National Invention Ambassador. - Brittany Martinez, an ILIPA board member and intellectual property attorney, co-chairs the event with Cruz. - The celebration is presented with the Northwestern Pritzker School of Law Master of Science in Law program. - Supporters include the United States Intellectual Property Alliance, the Global Intellectual Property Alliance and the National Academy of Inventors. - Attendees are expected to include in-house corporate IP professionals, academics, small and medium-sized businesses, professional associations, law firms, technology firms, service firms, and leaders from entertainment, the arts and sports. - Hundreds of peers and industry experts are expected to attend. - Registration is open at ILIPAcelebration.eventbrite.com. - Kevin Mui, ILIPA webmaster and events committee volunteer, is available for additional questions. - Media and partnership inquiries can be sent to communications@ilipalliance.org.

Between the lines: - The repeated proclamation and annual celebration suggest Illinois is trying to build continuity around intellectual property as a policy and economic-development theme. - The mix of panels and networking points to an effort to connect the legal, academic, business and creative communities in one setting. - The focus on K-12 creators signals an emphasis on building the pipeline of future inventors early.

What's next: - ILIPA will host the celebration on Oct. 29 and use the event to encourage partnerships and future innovation. - Organizers expect the gathering to draw a broad cross-section of Illinois' IP community. - Additional information is available through ILIPA's website and social channels.