WIPO SME UPDATE - August 2002

[Seth Johnson <seth.johnson@RealMeasures.dyndns.org>]

(Check out "Managing Intellectual Property: A Guide to
Strategic Decision-Making in Universities."  -- Seth)


-------- Original Message --------
Subject: WIPO's SME UPDATE - August 2002
Date: Fri, 9 Aug 2002 10:11:12 +0200 (CEST)
From: sme@wipo.int
Organization: WIPO
To: sme-en@lists.wipo.int


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.


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