1. IP Awareness and Enforcement: Modular Based Actions for SMEs
Project co-financed by the European Commission
Hubert Rothe, Head of Division, Information Services for the Public, German Patent and Trade Mark Office, Munich
WIPO 6th Annual Forum on IP and SMEs, Cardiff, 10 – 11 September 2008 1

2. Background
Network of NPOs in Europe founded in 2005, supported by European Commission, DG Enterprise
Creation of the Innovaccess.eu website, based on previous EU projects
Presentation of the network by M. Philippe Cadre at the WIPO Forum 2006 in Geneva
Termination of the IPR Helpdesk project (coordinated by University of Alicante) at the end of 2007
Call “IP Awareness and Enforcement Project (including IPR Helpdesk)“ published by DG Enterprise in April 2007, based on the CIP Programme
19 NPOs, University of Alicante and 6 other institutions filed a common proposal in June 2007
EC accepted the proposal in October 2007
Project contract concluded with the EC on 31 October 2007
Commencement of the project on 1 November 2007 2

3. IP Awareness and Enforcement: Modular Based Action for SMEs
Duration: Nov Oct. 2010
Budget: 7.9 M€
Coordinator: University of Alicante (ES)
Partners: 19 NPOs 5 research institutions 1 trade organisation (EURATEX) 1 innovation agency (Luxinno) 3

4. 4

5. Project objectives
To significantly raise SMEs’ interest and knowledge about Intellectual Property (IP) issues;
To raise SMEs’ understanding of the need to integrate IP in their innovation strategies and their business planning;
To improve the protection of SMEs’ IP rights through the increased registration of rights EU-wide and also internationally and increase the use of non-registered protection methods through the effective promotion of these methods;
To improve protection and enforcement by SMEs of their IP rights from infringement whether this originates from within or outside the EU;
To raise SMEs ability to fight counterfeiting and increase knowledge on the methodologies available to detect it … 5

6. Project objectives (continued)
To develop actions to promote awareness on IPR protection to educate the fashion and design industries (textiles, leather, footwear and furniture) on the risks counterfeiting poses and on the existing means and procedures to combat it;
To promote and support the use of IP rights in international research, development and technology transfer activities, providing an IP rights support service to actual and potential beneficiaries of CIP and Research Framework Programme actions, especially high-tech SMEs and Public Research Organisations. 6

7. Modules and Target Audiences
Module 0 – Horizontal Work Packages
WP1. Developing the Knowledge Base (DK)
WP2. Developing the IPR Toolbox (IT)
WP3. IT Support (UA)
WP4. Communications and Marketing (GB)
WP5. Cooperation with other actors (SE)
WP6. Project Management (UA)
Target audience
All project partners
External partners and stakeholders (WP5) 7

8. Modules and Target Audiences
WP7. Setting up a user-friendly website for IPR support for European SMEs (FR)
WP8. Setting up local Helpdesks for IPR and enforcement support for European SMEs (DE)
WP9. Planning local actions for Awareness and Enforcement Services (HU)
WP10. IPR Enforcement Support Services (DK)
WP11 Delivering awareness and enforcement actions directly to SMEs (CRPHT)
WP12 Delivering Awareness and Enforcement Actions for SMEs Support Services (IEEPI)
Target audience
Innovative and high-tech SMEs
SME support services, innovation support actors and networks, e.g. Chambers of Commerce
IPR enforcement agencies 8

9. Modules and Target Audiences
Module 2 (University of Alicante)
WP13. Sectoral Handbook(s) Production and Dissemination
Target audience
Enterprises (especially SMEs) of the fashion and design industries (textiles, leather, footwear and furniture) from target countries
Sectoral associations
Chambers of commerce, regional development agencies, etc. 9

10. Modules and Target Audiences
Module 3 (University of Alicante)
WP14. IPR-Helpdesk Website Content Generation and Info-Service
WP15. Helpline for participants in EU-funded Research and Innovation projects
Target audience
Current and potential participants, e.g.
SMEs,
universities and
research organisations,
in CIP and RTD Framework Programmes of the European Commission 10

11. Expected results
Establishment of a cost-efficient and useful trans-national website including an extranet network of European helpdesks
Development of new IPR enforcement support services
Implementation of at least 2 new sustainable services on IPR and enforcement issues per country according to the needs of the SMEs and to the national IP policy
Stronger and sustainable relations between each NPO and the local intermediaries at national level 11

12. Project Structure European Commission DG Enterprise
Scientific Coordination Committee (10 consortium members: NPOs of DE, DK, FR, GB, HU, IT and SE, University of Alicante (ES), CRPHT (LU), IEEPI (FR))
Advisory Board (external parties)
Administrative Coordination (University of Alicante)
Management Board All 26 consortium members 12

13. More information is available at or
Thank you for your attention. 13