Benchmarking National - PRO INNO Europe

208
BENCHMARKING NATIONAL AND REGIONAL SUPPORT SERVICES FOR SMES IN THE FIELD OF INTELLECTUAL AND INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY
is then evaluated by a committee and an IP Diploma Prize is awarded to the
successful candidates.
“HCCI”: Information service network of the Hungarian Chamber of Commerce
During the last years, 23 (Type “A”) IP information and education service locations
were set up in existing Chamber of Commerce offices across Hungary as part of the
VIVACE programme. Enterprises which are served by the services and measures
offered by regional Chamber of Commerce offices are now provided with industrial
property information services. In this respect, enterprises can draw on specific IPR
support and know-how from experts in the various stages of their innovation
activity. The portfolio of support services consists of general information on
industrial property, electronic industrial property information tools, i.e. access to
relevant databases, etc. Especially the search in patent databases is, according to
experts, carried out efficiently and in short time.
Based on statements given by the service providers, HCCI service locations act in
some cases more like a referral point than a specific service providing institution;
complex issues are handed over rather quickly to experts from the HPO. However,
the support by the Chamber of Commerce on IPR issues is very much integrated
into a package of other, non-IPR related services, for example: tendering information
(information and consultancy), local governmental information and support
possibilities as well as access to finance possibilities, i.e. the Micro Credit Programme
(Széchenyi Card).
“FTSS”: Co-operation with the Federation of Technical and Scientific Sciences
Since 1999, IP information points were opened in the “Houses of Technology” of
the Federation of Technical and Scientific Societies (FTSS). By the end of 2005, 10
locations provided IP information services across Hungary. The FTSS service
offerings are the same as the ones offered by the HCCI, but were, as opposed to
HCCI, terminated due to budgetary reasons.
“PATLIB”: PATLIB Centre network with higher education departments
During the last years, PATLIB centres were set at leading Hungarian universities to
allow for a better information exchange with R&D, professors and students. The
first PATLIB Centre established was the Industrial Property Information and
Education Centre of the Hungarian Patent Office.
PATLIB Centres, which are normally based at the central library services of
universities or TTOs (Technology Transfer Offices), are focused on students and
university personnel and benefits from the experiences gathered from the activities
of the HCCI and FTSS. The accumulated knowledge is passed on to PATLIB Centres
which provide in-depth information plus tailored services like consultation with
entrepreneurs, university courses on industrial property, etc.
Incentives and funding possibilities
Government subsidies can be obtained for international IP applications: 90% of the
costs are subsidised. On the other hand, national protection is aided by a new tax
refund system from 2005. In 2004, a new application fund system became
available, which financially supports prototyping, the preparation of the very first
production run, market surveys and utilisation by SMEs. The budget available for
this kind of funding amounted to € 300,000 in 2004 and € 800,000 in 2005.
Furthermore, other funding pools have been set up to support SMEs with their IP
protection, i.e. by the InnoCheque System or other, more regional programmes
(i.e. the Regional Innovation Agency Programme, Regional University Knowledge
Centre Programme, etc.). It has to be noted that the latter are not official partners
of the VIVACE programme but operate in close partnership with the HPO.
In addition, the Hungarian Government provides economic incentives to promote
the IP activities of SMEs. An innovation tax was introduced in 2003: Expenditures
on obtaining and maintaining national IP protection can be deducted from the
original tax base. The tax return flows into an innovation fund, which supports
different innovation developments, programmes and other investments.