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WIPO Hosts Forum on IP and Smes for OECD and South Mediterranean Countries

Geneva, May 26, 2005
Press Releases PR/2005/407

Representatives of 20 national intellectual property offices and 10 institutions promoting the competitiveness of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) participated on May 25-26, 2006 in the third annual WIPO Forum on Intellectual Property (IP) and SMEs for IP Offices of the OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development) and South Mediterranean Countries at the Geneva headquarters of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). A program is available at https://www.wipo.int/edocs/mdocs/sme/en/wipo_smes_ge_05/wipo_smes_ge_05_1_prov.doc.

Discussions covered a wide range of issues including outreach and support programs for students (at all levels), researchers, spin-offs, start-up companies, SME support institutions and marketing of the services of IP offices, e-learning programs, IP information, search services and programs dealing with IP theft.

A number of presentations were devoted to user-friendly tools for awareness raising and capacity building among educational institutions. Noteworthy presentations were made by the United Kingdom Patent Office, France's National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI), and the "Idea Pilot" Project of the National Board of Patents and Registration of Finland. The "Idea Pilot" Project, supoprted by WIPO, is designed to enhance coordination among SME support and educational institutions to promote an holistic approach to the use of intellectual property.

SMEs account for over 90 % of enterprises in most countries. They are a highly innovative driving force that contribute to the health of national economies through employment creation, investment and exports. SMEs, however, are often unaware of the potential advantages of the IP system in enhancing their competitiveness, and consequently they often underutilize the IP system. The capacity of SMEs to exploit the IP system to enhance their competitiveness is at the heart of concerns of WIPO's SMEs division. Efforts focus on informing SMEs about the tools that are available for creating, identifying, protecting, using and leveraging intellectual property assets.

For further information, please contact the Media Relations and Public Affairs Section at WIPO:

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