1. Javier Peña Capobianco The importance of IP for Chambers of Commerce

2. Mission since 1867 To seek for the general interest of commerce and the entire private sector in the national economy and to offer a meeting point to deal with all sorts of licit activities. National Chamber of Commerce and Services of Uruguay

3. 1) Competitiveness  IP is one of the most important business assets. Through the ownership of valuable IP rights it is possible to increase the commercial value of firms.  It also can add value to the products or services through the differentiation, in particular in the international market. Chambers of Commerce and IP

4. 2) The innovation process  Innovators should protect their investments (time and resources) and researches, so they do not become profitable to others.  Many innovators are investing resources and time in developing something that it has been invented previously. Chambers of Commerce and IP

5. 3) Private property  Intangible assets are also part of private property. A lot of resources are lost each year because of counterfeiting and piracy. 4) International trade agreements  In the modern free trade agreements IP is always present. Chambers of Commerce and IP

6. 5) New services  New incomes 6) Representation  New company members and associations Chambers of Commerce and IP

7. 7) To lead a “new subject”  Possibility to show to the public opinion that Chambers of Commerce are leading the subject.  Act as real leaders, who integrate and coordinate all actors involved in a subject that is important to all sectors in the economy. Chambers of Commerce and IP

8. Chambers of Commerce, in different regions worldwide have started to put into practice different kind of services to support companies to take advantage of the lP system.  Specialized services (technical assistant).  Activities of diffusion (guides, magazines, Web sites, seminaries, etc).  Grants to obtain the first IP right or to have technical assistant. Chambers of Commerce and IP

9. Our Chamber and the IP OBJECTIVES Principal: To promote at the entrepreneurial level a culture of IP, especially among SME, in order to improve their competitiveness and to foster innovation. Specifics: To sensitize about its importance and promote its advantages. To train professionals on the subject. To give specialized services and advise companies.

10. Training for the CNCS: "Workshop on Practical Intellectual Property Issues for Small and Medium Sized Enterprises Support Institutions". WIPO Visits to Italy and Finland Dissemination: On the website On the newsletter Our Chamber and the IP

11. Seminars and workshops  Seminar international: "How to increase the value of your company? The SME and the Intellectual Property". April 2006. WIPO, Unioncamere  Services of Intellectual Property designed for SME. April 2006. WIPO, Unioncamere  First regional Forum for the Promotion of the use of Intellectual Property in the SME Agro-alimentary. July 2006. WIPO, DNPI  National workshop about TRIPS. May 2007. WTO  The intellectual property and the SME. Jun 2007. IDB  Seminars about trade marks. October 2007. WIPO, DNPI Our Chamber and the IP

12. Next steps: Training for trainers. (WIPO – DNPI) Adapt and print practical guides. Centre of Support and Promotion of IP. Our Chamber and the IP

13. Lessons learnt  To realize about the importance of the subject.  To act in collaboration with other institutions.  To involve all the actors.  To lead by action.

14. THANK YOU VERY MUCH !!! JAVIER PEÑA CAPOBIANCO jpc@cncs.com.uy