Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) drive economic growth, innovation, and job creation worldwide. A strong Intellectual Property (IP) strategy can play a vital role in unlocking their full potential, helping them protect innovations, attract investment, and explore new market opportunities. By effectively managing IP, SMEs can strengthen product development, secure funding, and enhance their competitiveness. For these reasons, incorporating IP strategically is essential to foster innovation, build market presence, and sustain growth.
To that end, the IP for Business Division (IPBD) of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) developed the Intellectual Property Management Clinic for SMEs Program (IPMC) in 2021. This programme aims to support innovative companies in formulating their IP strategies based on their business plan and asset portfolio. It is delivered from local IP clinics on an international scale.
We are now excited to announce that IGL will collaborate with WIPO to develop recommendations on how IPBD could improve and scale up the current IPMC program for the benefit of its member countries. Over the next few months, we will assess the features of different national IP management clinics to understand how they work, analyse key features, and identify best practices. A number of IP Management Clinics as well as this benchmarking study are implemented with valuable assistance from the Japan Patent Office (JPO).
Drawing on our expertise and previous experience in benchmarking studies, we will develop a methodology to identify key comparison dimensions, collect relevant data and analyse results in collaboration with multiple IP offices worldwide. The effort will culminate in a report showcasing the different models and key features of IP support for SMEs.
This is a unique opportunity for IGL and WIPO to have a tangible impact on how SMEs consider and integrate their IP strategies. Understanding the advantages and disadvantages of the different models will enable IPBD to improve its programme in a way that can bring exponential benefits to the participating SMEs. Through this collaboration, IGL aims to contribute relevant insights into how IP support can effectively help SMEs. More broadly, it is also an occasion to show how a data-driven benchmarking approach can shape more effective programmes on an international scale.