In an effort to help innovators understand emerging intellectual property issues and capitalize on their creativity, the United States Patent and Trademark Office will partner with the Smithsonian American Art Museum to sponsor a free, two-day Inventors Symposium next week.

The first day of the event will be focused on the recently enacted America Invents Act and how it will impact independent inventors and small business entrepreneurs. PTO officials will be on hand to discuss topics ranging from intellectual property protection to the patent application process.

The following day, expert panelists intend to focus on applying and building upon previously discussed issues to help the business community foster and grow their ideas. Government spokesmen will address the specific details of a number of public sector programs designed to assist independent innovators and small firms in getting their businesses off the ground.

Similar themes were discussed earlier in the week as experts from a variety of sectors gathered at the Brookings Institute in Washington, D.C. According to the Washington Post, intellectual property issues were framed in the context of how the technology industry can help spur job growth under the right regulatory climate.