Charles Clark is the global head of intellectual property at Edwards Ltd, a world-leading manufacturing company providing vacuum solutions to many industrial sectors, including semiconductor manufacturers and scientific instrument original equipment manufacturers. Mr Clark has a degree in physics and gained seven years’ experience working as a research engineer before switching careers into the IP sector. He has worked in specialist patent attorney practices in London and in-house at Black & Decker before joining Edwards nearly seven years ago.

During his time at Edwards, Mr Clark has been responsible for all IP matters across the business during a transformative period, starting with divestment from the BOC Group into private equity ownership, through to relocating manufacturing facilities into Asia and Eastern Europe, two initial public offerings (which resulted ultimately in shares being offered on NASDAQ) and finalisation of the acquisition of the business by Atlas Copco. Since completion of the acquisition, Mr Clark has remained Head of IP for the newly formed Vacuum Solutions Division of Atlas Copco, incorporating all the Edwards businesses and other vacuum-related suppliers.