Benchmarking National - PRO INNO Europe

1. INSTI SME Patent Action
Country: Germany
Original title: INSTI KMU Patentaktion
Target group: SMEs
Coverage: National
(Pro-active) awareness raising measures/Public Relations
Information Provision Services
Category*:
X
Training
Customized in-depth consulting and advisory services/
points
X Finance (& Legal Framework)
*classification system defined by the Austrian Institute for SME Research
1.1 The INSTI SME Patent in a nutshell
The German service “INSTI SME Patent Action” is a subsidy-based IPR programme
(with the subsidy being paid out to cover part of patenting costs for first-time SME
patentees) and was chosen as a case study for exhibiting quite a range of elements
of good practice: Amongst others, it was carefully planned and set up, is offered
nationwide with regional outlets, has a high degree of customer-specific advice
built-in and is integrated into a wider range of other IPR-related INSTI services. User
survey and evaluation results indicate a very favourable ratio of invested resources
with respect to achieved output. The case study also illustrates a positive interaction
between patent attorneys and the service providers which seems to be an important
success factor for the service. Challenges arise mainly in terms of marketing
needs.
The INSTI (INnovation STImulation) SME Patent Action aims at supporting SMEs
and enterprise starters who intend to protect their R&D results for the first time by
IPRs (patents and utility models only) or whose last IPR-related application was filed
more than five years ago. The service has the following specific goals:
� To reduce barriers in SMEs with respect to the use of patents and to optimise
SMEs' innovation management;
� To increase the number of qualified patent applications by SMEs;
� To make SMEs aware of the economic aspects and the exploitability of an
invention;
� To improve the use of patent information by SMEs and
� To improve the conditions in SMEs for the commercialisation of patents.
The main instrument used by this service is a subsidy: Eligible costs for tasks related
to patent-application may be reimbursed by up to 50 %. The subsidy is paid out in
several instalments and linked to five different service packages. The service is
operated by a regionally organised network of INSTI partners (which count 35 in
total), whereby the INSTI partners may be contracted public and/or private
organisations.
The regional INSTI-partner assists the supported SME or start-up by developing a
timetable for the take-up of the agreed services and accompanies the user during
the total support period (max. 18 months). Thus, the regional INSTI-partner takes
over the function of a coach. Depending on the decision made by the supported
SME or start-up, the agreed services are provided by the regional INSTI partner
himself or by external consultants or service providers. All in all, the INSTI SME
Patent Action intends to contribute to the strategic understanding of the patent
system and the benefits of using IPRs by SMEs.
Background and resources employed
The INSTI project was initiated in 1995 by the Federal Ministry of Education and
Research with the primary objective to increase the awareness and capability of
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ANNEX I – CASE STUDIES