The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office plans to open a satellite office in Detroit, its first such facility outside Washington, D.C.
The agency announced Wednesday that the 31,000 square-foot space just east of downtown will open by July. It's expected to employ 100 people in its first year, including many patent examiners, according to a report in the Associated Press.
According to a statement from the University of Michigan, the impact of the office will be felt across much of the Midwest.
“This is great news for the Great Lakes region, the state of Michigan and the University of Michigan,” said Stephen Forrest, U-M vice president for research.
“University research is at the core of our nation’s competitiveness. This satellite office will make it easier for our researchers to protect their discoveries and more quickly bring them to the marketplace.”
U-M recently was named as one of the top 14 universities worldwide for patent success. The university is awarded an average of 80 patents per year.
The patent agency says opening the new office is part of an effort to hire and keep "the nation's top professionals." It also says the new office should "provide a boost" to southeastern Michigan's "innovation economy."
The patent office plans to open at least two more satellite offices during the next three years.
The Detroit office will occupy space previously filled by a regional office of the U.S. Census Bureau.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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