Maximising Value… for you, from your innovation The Valley of Death & the SME IP skills gap 7 th WIPO Forum on IP and SMEs for IP Offices and Other Relevant Institutions in OECD Countries Elizabeth McNabb 15 th September 2009

Maximising Value… for you, from your innovation The Valley of Death

Maximising Value… for you, from your innovation What do we know about SMEs?  Excellent sources of innovation  Limited resources –Time –Money –Expertise  They tell us they are overwhelmed by information

Maximising Value… for you, from your innovation Implications  Many require funding to develop and commercialise innovation  Often fail to raise the capital required –Lack of expertise –Limited time –Limited funds to acquire expertise

Maximising Value… for you, from your innovation Commercial Success © Highbury Ltd – Sept 2009

Maximising Value… for you, from your innovation Assumptions  Innovative idea  Excellent market opportunity  Why would this fail?

Maximising Value… for you, from your innovation What SMEs lack © Highbury Ltd – Sept 2009

Maximising Value… for you, from your innovation Reason for failure Lack of IP skills leads to Perceived High Risk by Investors

Maximising Value… for you, from your innovation How to supply IP skills  Bite sized pieces –Lack of resources can mean SMEs easily become overwhelmed  Work “with” not “for” the SMEs –Enables knowledge transfer  Specific not general –Allows identification with business

Maximising Value… for you, from your innovation Example  IP Portfolio Development Review –Part IP diagnostic –Part IP strategy development tool –Part Mentoring –Specific to innovation –Instructs how to document IP –Suggests areas for strengthening IP –Provides recommendations –Usually raises perceived value of both Innovation and SME

Maximising Value… for you, from your innovation Contact  Elizabeth McNabb: –Global Business Development Director  Office : +44(0)  Mobile: +44(0) 