-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WIPO's SME UPDATE - August 2002
By the SMEs Division of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
CASE STUDIES
R&D MAKES BUSINESS SENSE
In 1999, FK Biotecnologia S.A. became the first Brazilian biotechnology firm to
receive venture capital for the development of its innovative technologies.
Since then, the company has grown at a steady pace and is considered a
pioneering example of a successful biotech start-up in Brazil. Patent
protection and patent information have been important elements of FK
Biotecnologia's business strategy.
See: http://www.wipo.int/sme/en/case_studies/fk_biotec.htm
BEST PRACTICES
ITALIAN CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE
In 2000, 19 Italian chambers of commerce and specialized agencies attached to
the chambers of commerce developed a project for the creation of "Network
Information Centers for the Dissemination of a Patent Culture". The main
objective of the project was to promote the development of an industrial
property culture in Italy, especially within the private sector, in order to
raise awareness on the importance of patents and patent information for the
development of Italian enterprises. More on the experience is available at:
http://www.wipo.int/sme/en/best_practices/italian_cc.htm or
www.infobrevetti.camcom.it
USEFUL GUIDES AND LINKS
MANAGING INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY: A GUIDE TO STRATEGIC DECISION-MAKING IN
UNIVERSITIES
The UK Patent Office has published earlier this year a guide concerned with the
strategic
aspects of managing Intellectual Property (IP) within universities and other
higher education
institutions. It provides guidance on issues relating to IP and how
universities might address these in their strategic plans and policies. It
focuses on IP arising from research and its exploitation through its sale and
licensing, including the establishment of spin-out companies.
The guide is available at: http://www.patent.gov.uk/about/notices/manip/
GUIDE FOR SOUTH AFRICAN DESIGNERS ON INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS
The Designs Institute of the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) has
created an on-line guide for South African designers. The guide responds to
basic questions based on South African legislation and practices. See:
http://www.sabs.co.za/design/publications/IPindex.htm
BUSINESS INCUBATORS
In Europe, more than 800 Business incubators provide entrepreneurs and
investors in newly created firms with a supportive
environment to help establish and develop their business. The web site of the
Community Research and Development Information Services (CORDIS) offers an easy
way to identify the nearest business incubators and contact persons via a
simple search feature. Available records cover members of Science Parks and
Business and Innovation Centers (BICs) networks. Each record identifies the
incubator's target sectors or technologies and provides full contact details.
See: http://www.cordis.lu/incubators/
ACTIVITIES
PROMOTING SME EXPORTS
A paper on "Promoting Exports from Small and Medium-sized Enterprises" was
presented by WIPO at the WIPO National Seminar on Industrial Property and the
Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) which took place in Port Louis (Mauritius) on
16 to 17 July, 2002. The document outlined ways in which intellectual property
may assist export-oriented firms in their shift from commodity exporters to
exporters of internationally competitive high value-added goods. The document
is available at:
http://www.wipo.int/cfdpct/en/meetings/2002/pct_mru/pdf/pct_mru_02_5.pdf
REGIONAL SYMPOSIUM FOR HIGH TECH INDUSTRIES IN CHINA
The WIPO Asian Regional Symposium on the Importance of the IP System for
High-Tech Industries took place in Guangzhou, China, July 10 to 12, 2002. The
regional symposium included participants from 20 Asian countries and focused on
activities for enhancing the development of the High-tech sector through an
effective use of the IP system. The regional symposium was followed by a WIPO
National Training Course on IP for Entrepreneurs on July 15 to 19, 2002.
EXPERT MISSION ON TEXTILE DESIGNS
In June 2002, WIPO commissioned an expert mission to study and collect
information on IP protection of textile designs in four African countries,
namely Ghana, Nigeria, Ethiopia and Kenya. The expert mission also examined
the participation of SMEs in the textile industry, in particular their use of
the IP system. A report will be submitted to WIPO identifying textile products
that could be protected and developed and recommending on the best way in which
IP could be used to protect and promote the identified products.
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
- National Seminars on the Profitable Use of the Industrial Property System in
Developing Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) (Mexico City, Mexico,
August 27 and 28, 2002). The two seminars are organized as part of the "SME
Week" and will take place at the World Trade Centre. For more information, see:
http://www.impi.gob.mx/web/imagenes/por/ProgramaPYME.htm
- Fifth International Conference of the Nigerian Association of Small and
Medium-sized Enterprises (NASME) on "Enhancing the Competitiveness and Growth
of SMEs" (Abuja, Nigeria, September 17 to 19, 2002)
- Annual Small Scale Industries Event in India (New Delhi, India, August 28,
2002). For more information see: http://www.smallindustryindia.com/
- Seminar on "IPR Policy for Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) and its
Business Incubator" on August 31, 2002 in Bombay/Mumbai, India
- Workshop on "Organizing Training of Trainers Program in IPRs for SMEs" on
September 2, 2002 in the National Institute of Small Industry Extension
Training (NISIET), Hyderabad, India.
-------
To unsubscribe from this service go to http://www.wipo.int/lists/sme-en
To contact the sme-en administrator please write to: sme@wipo.int
Visit the SME web site at: http://www.wipo.int/sme
|