Support centre for SMEs in the management of Industrial Property and Technology Watch Patricia García-Escudero Spanish Patent and Trademark Office 7 Annual WIPO Forum on IP and SMEs

Origin of the Centre: Situation  Spanish SMEs: 99,86 % enterprises  SMEs do not use:  IP Rigths  IP Information  Reasons:  Unknown  Expensive  Difficult

Purpose of the Centre: The Needs of SMEs  Identifying and valuing their intangible assets  Key strategy for business management: trademarks and patents are assets that generate competitive advantages

Purpose of the Centre: Basics  Implement a useful IP policy for SMEs  Foster an IP and SVI culture in SMEs and provide SME’s with information about IP and SVI  Develop easy-to-use and effective tools for providing information and advice  Integrate IP in all operational and corporate processes of SMEs

Origin of the Centre  Initiative of the Spain's Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Trade  The Directorate General for SME Policy  the Spanish Patent and Trademark Office  the EOI Foundation (Business School)  On 1 July started up the Pilot Project

Main objective  Train and advise SMEs and equip them with the necessary tools:  so that they can properly protect and exploit their intangible assets  according to their specific technological needs and capabilities

Types of SME (OECD) and IP needs  “Technology creators”:  “Technology creators”: The most innovative SMEs:  1-3%  PATENTS  PATENTS to protect their inventions  “Users of leading-edge technologies”:  10-15% patent information  Use of patent information, strategic vigilance for licence agreements  “Users of non-innovative technology”:  80-85%  TRADEMARKS, INDUSTRIAL DESIGNS  TRADEMARKS, INDUSTRIAL DESIGNS as means of developing and communicating a distinctive, creative image of the company

Purpose of the Centre SMEs and Business associations  To provide SMEs and Business associations with information and personalised assistance in relation to: industrial property (IP) protection needs  The options that best meet their industrial property (IP) protection needs managing and commercialising their IP assets  The most effective means of managing and commercialising their IP assets after obtaining registration of the related rights

The Centre’s Strategies Every SME must decide for itself what type of IP system to use and how much to use it, based on a well founded analysis and a proper understanding of the system  Strategies:  Help SMEs make decisions to fully exploit their innovative and creative potential through effective use of the IP system  Encourage SMEs to use the IP system by offering them appropriate training and information  Use the commercial circles, industry organizations, chambers of commerce, business associations, etc. that collaborate in the Centre’s activities

Centre Resources  The Centre has its own website, with general and sector-specific information on managing industrial property rights and self-training courses  Important novelty:  Consultation service  Specialised personnel for giving personalised advice to SMEs

Types of Advising  Personalised advise for SMEs:  Strategies for protecting results  Strategies for internationalising IP protection  Strategies for managing R&D and Technology Watch  Technology transfer, licensing, exploitation and marketing strategies

Consultation services  On-line    By telephone   Company visits  On-site: Company visits

Collaborators: Regional IP Centres (PATLIB Network)

Sector information  Information packs  Sector reports  Alerts services  Patents  Technologies  Events  Information bulletins and newspapers for subscribers.

Online training  Information and training for SMEs and business associations on industrial property and technology watch matters  Tutored online courses  Targeted Manuals and Brochures

For complete information...