WIPO's SME UPDATE - February 2002
By the SMEs Division of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
1) NEWS
WIPO LAUNCHES ITS SME WEB SITE IN FRENCH
Following the recent launch of the SME web site in Spanish, WIPO has published
the French version on February 6, 2002. The web site is an introduction to
intellectual property for entrepreneurs and SME support organizations with
questions and answers, advice, checklists, links and documents for further
reading. See: www.wipo.int/sme/fr/index.html
EU CALLS FOR INNOVATION PROJECTS
The European Commission has called for proposals for projects relating to
"Promotion of Innovation - new approaches to technology transfer".
Approximately EUR 20 million have been set aside as the Community's
contribution to the projects. The deadline for submission is 15 March 2002. For
more information see: http://www.cordis.lu/innovation-smes/calls/200102.htm
IP AUSTRALIA TARGETS BUSINESS
IP Australia has recently launched two new features on its web site which are
of great utility to SMEs. The first one is IP Access, a portal for different
interest groups to make it easier to find the relevant information on the IP
Australia web site. The second one is the IP Toolbox: a comprehensive manual
with questions and answers on legal, management, accounting and commercial
issues related to IP that may be ordered on-line.
http://www.ipaustralia.gov.au/
WIPO ASIAN REGIONAL WORKSHOP IN BANGKOK
The WIPO Asian Regional Workshop on the Use of Information Technology and
Management of Industrial Property Rights by SMEs will take place from February
25 to 27, 2002 in Bangkok at the Hotel Siam Intercontinental. The program of
the workshop may be viewed at:
http://www.wipo.int/sme/en/index.html?wipo_content_frame=/sme/en/activities/pdf/bangkok.pdf
For further information, contact the SMEs Division at: sme@wipo.int
2) CASE STUDY
USING IP TO FIND INVESTORS - THE CASE OF EAT-SET (NIGERIA)
EAT-SET is the result of the inventive work of Dr. Oviemo Ovadje, of Military
Hospital Ikoyi, Lagos. The invention aims at facilitating the recovery of blood
out of the body cavity during operations and re-infusing it back into the
patient body after filtration. With the assistance of UNDP Dr. Ovadje managed
to obtain patent and trademark protection in a number of countries. Patent and
trademark protection was crucial in attracting investment to his newly created
company in order to commercialize his pioneering invention. For more on the
EAT-SET case study see:
http://www.wipo.int/sme/en/index.html?wipo_content_frame=/sme/en/case_studies/eat_set.htm
3) BEST PRACTICES
GOVERNMENT-INDUSTRY VENTURE CAPITAL COMPANY FINANCES TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER AND IP
PROTECTION IN MALAYSIA
The Malaysian Technology Development Corporation or MTDC is a venture
capital-based company established by the Government and the private sector. It
started its operations in 1992 and has established three funds for promoting
the acquisition of technology and the commercialization of R&D. The funds
include financial assistance for acquiring patented technology, for conducting
patent searches, and the initial costs for applying for intellectual property
protection in Malaysia and in three major countries. More on the Malaysian
Technology Development Corporation at: http://www.mtdc.com.my/
4) LINKS
PYMESITE is a widely used business information provider for SMEs in Latin
America. The site contains information on a number of issues ranging from
foreign trade, human resources and training to financing, technology and
e-commerce. An entire sub-section is devoted to "Marks, Patents and
Intellectual Property" with recent news of interest to SMEs as well as
editorials with practical advice. See: www.pymesite.com (only in Spanish)
SIORA Network is a joint project of the Russian Agency for Small and Medium
Enterprises Support and Tacis (EU). It combines non-governmental and commercial
agencies for business support in the whole territory of Russia. Through the web
site it renders services to small and medium businesses, it collects and
disseminates information about the current situation for the entrepreneurial
sector of the Russian economy and it facilitates efficient communication
between business support institutions and companies themselves. Advice and
information on intellectual property is also provided within the legal
services. See: http://www.russianbusinesssite.com/legal_services/ip-sum.asp
5) ARTICLE OF THE MONTH
This month's article on intellectual property considered of interest to SMEs is
entitled "I Have My Patent * NOW What Do I Do?" and was published in Patent
Café's Magazine. The article may be accessed at the following link:
http://www.cafezine.com/index_article.asp?id=469&deptId=5
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