Increasing IP Use: Outreach Aimed at Small and Medium-sized Enterprises
Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO)
CIPO has a series of outreach products and activities aiming at increasing IP awareness among Canadian SMEs and encouraging them to use IP rights as part of their business strategy. CIPO’s IP ToolKit and the Stand out from your competitors publication explain to SMEs the nature of IP rights and how they can benefit small business. CIPO also organizes seminars targeted at SMEs and even has a bank of speakers who are ready to speak about IP issues at the events of other organizations that have an SMEs audience.
Instituto Mexicano de la Propiedad Industrial (IMPI)
In 2004, IMPI launched the Conózcanos (get to know us) campaign to raise awareness among Mexican SMEs about the importance of IP and encourage them to register their inventions, marks and designs. A major component of the campaign consisted of 91 inserts for print publications. The inserts were not overburdened with technical information. Instead, they acted as bait, briefly explaining what different IP tools could offer SMEs then providing contact details for further information. IMPI also publishes booklets and guides explaining IP concepts, which can be downloaded from its website.
Institute National de la Propriété Industrielle (INPI)
Since 1991, France’s INPI has organized the biennial Trophées INPI de l’Innovation , to distinguish SMEs and research institutions which have successfully integrated industrial property as an essential component of their research, innovation and development policies. Since the creation of this program, more than 700 SMEs and research organisms have received awards. In the year 2000 alone, these awards generated more than 450 stories in the media.
Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS)
Launched at the end of 2002, the Intellectual Property - Creation, Exploitation & Protection ( IP-CEP ) program raises awareness among Singapore’s SMEs about the relevance of IP to their business. The program uses a series of talks, workshops and clinics to introduce IP concepts. Other IPOS Programmes for Businesses help SMEs to network and keep up-to-date on the latest IP news.
IP Australia
IP Australia is very active in educating SMEs about use of the IP system. Its activities in this area include: a website full of practical information including the Smart Start site; information kits and how-to guides; a help-line for queries, user-friendly multi-media products (including the Get Smart with IP, IP Navigator and IP Toolbox CD-ROMs); case studies illustrating how Australian enterprises have used the IP system; and seminars.
IP Wales
Funded by the European Union and the Welsh Development Union, IP Wales was launched in July 2002 as the UK’s first custom-made IP support initiative for businesses. IP Wales aims at increasing awareness of the value of IPRs amongst Welsh SMEs. It offers a free Guide on IP issues that SMEs should address as well as instant IP advice on-line, conferences on IP, and a newsletter.
Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO)
Since September 1999, KIPO has carried out the Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises' IPR Acquisition Campaign in cooperation with 14 related organizations, including the Korean Chamber of Commerce. The purpose of this campaign is to raise IPR awareness and encourage IPR acquisition among small and medium-sized enterprises. As part of this campaign, KIPO held information workshops on IPRs in 38 cities throughout Korea and also set up sister relationships between KIPO examiners and 390 SMEs to provide practical information on IP acquisition and management in 2000.
LIIP-project (Linking Innovation and Industrial Property)
This project, supported by the European Commission, aims to help researchers and innovators integrate IP into projects and/or a company’s strategy. It includes a Good Practice Guide targeted at managers of SMEs.
Norwegian Patent Office (NPO)
In its efforts to assist Norwegian SMEs to protect their intellectual assets with IP tools, since 2004 the NPO has held free lunch seminars in cities throughout the country. Also in 2004, the NPO updated its website to include, among other things, simple IP guides.
World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
WIPO’s SMEs Division carries out extensive outreach activities targeting SMEs worldwide. This includes a dedicated area of the website, an e-newsletter, a series of guides and many seminars.
