WIPO-WASME Co-Host Meeting on Strategic Business of IP
Geneva, October 14, 2003
Press Updates UPD/2003/205
The use of intellectual property as a tool for business development was the focus of a four-day workshop hosted by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the Association for Small and Medium Enterprises (WASME), in Geneva from October 6 to 9, 2003. The workshop provided a platform for participants to exchange ideas and information on their respective country experiences, policies and practices in using intellectual property as a strategic business tool to enhance the competitiveness of enterprises. The participants included representatives of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), law firms, financial institutions as well as business consultants from Argentina, India, Italy, Malaysia, Swaziland and Switzerland. The International Trade Center (ITC) and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) were also represented at the Special Program on Practical Intellectual Property Rights Issues.
The event was organized within the framework of WIPO's drive to empower SMEs to make more effective use of the IP system to identify, develop, protect and manage the knowledge and IP assets they create. It is the first in a series of events organized by WIPO's Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs) Division and WASME to promote the use of the intellectual property system by SMEs and SME support institutions. SMEs are a highly dynamic and economically important sector contributing more than 90% of the gross national product (GNP) of many countries. Enhanced knowledge of the role and use of IP by SMEs promises to enhance their commercial performance and strengthen their competitiveness in the market place.
In his opening remarks, Mr. Roberto Castelo, WIPO Deputy Director General emphasized the growing importance of intellectual property as a strategically important tool to promote economic development and business development. In his opening statement, Dr. Arun Agrawal, Secretary General of WASME, applauded WIPO for its pioneering efforts to promote greater understanding and use of the tools of the intellectual property system by SMEs worldwide. He said this would be acknowledged at the 15th International SME Conference scheduled to take place in Abuja, Nigeria in April 2004.
During the four-day event presentations focussed on business-related topics including IP ownership, valuation of IP assets and the role of IP in raising finance as well as general IP topics covering patents, trademarks, copyright, IP enforcement and collective management. Presentations are available at the website of the SMEs Division at www.wipo.int/sme. WIPO and WASME are planning a second workshop in March 2004.
For more information and material on IP for SMEs, visit the web site of the SMEs Division of WIPO and subscribe to the free monthly e-newsletter of the SMEs Division or contact the Media Relations and Public Affairs Section at WIPO: Tel: + 41 22 338 8161 or 9547; e-mail: publicinf@wipo.int.