Benchmarking National - PRO INNO Europe
Benchmarking National - PRO INNO Europe
Benchmarking National - PRO INNO Europe
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
15. Technology Network<br />
Service – Intellectual<br />
Property (TNS IP)<br />
Country: France<br />
Prestation technologique réseau propriété industrielle<br />
Original title:<br />
(RDT IP)<br />
Target group: SMEs<br />
Coverage: <strong>National</strong><br />
(Pro-active) awareness raising measures/Public Relations<br />
Information Provision Services<br />
Category*: Training<br />
Customized in-depth consulting and advisory services/<br />
X<br />
points<br />
X Finance & Legal Framework<br />
*classification system defined by the Austrian Institute for SME Research<br />
15.1 The Technology Network Service –<br />
Intellectual Property (TNS IP) in a nutshell<br />
The Technology Network Service (TNS) serves as a nation-wide technological and<br />
innovation support system aiming to provide assistance in innovation projects,<br />
familiarise SMEs with intellectual property rights and, in case of the TNS Intellectual<br />
Property (TNS IP), offer incentives for companies to pursue IPR protection (“First<br />
Patent” TNS). Provided by the French innovation agency “Oséo innovation”<br />
(formerly known as ANVAR), the TNS acts as part of the French RDT-Network<br />
(Technology Development Network/Réseaux de développement technologique),<br />
which consists of other dedicated technology and innovation support agencies:<br />
DRIRE (Industry, research and environment regional direction), ARIST (regional<br />
strategic and technology information agencies) and CRIT (innovation and<br />
technology transfer regional centres).<br />
The RDT-Network aims to identify the innovation potential of companies and to<br />
provide accurate guidance regarding innovation management and/or IPR protection.<br />
The network is used mostly to get into contact with (local) SMEs and inform them<br />
about the latest development in innovation (protection), to offer an overview on<br />
IPR and to promote available support services in this field. In case of the TNS, the<br />
network offers advice and assistance in innovation management and protection,<br />
particularly measures to identify technological needs (i.e. helping with scientific<br />
feasibility studies, implementing technology intelligence, etc.).<br />
Moreover, as a specialised extension of TNS, the Technology Network Service –<br />
Intellectual Property (TNS IP) offers an IPR support measure focusing on the patent<br />
application process, the so-called “First Patent” TNS. This service subsidises an<br />
audit of the enterprise’s strategy with regard to intellectual property issues which<br />
covers around 75 % of the total costs with a ceiling of € 5,000. The subsidy is paid<br />
directly to the consultant in charge of the audit.<br />
TNS operates nationwide through regional centres and is not limited in duration.<br />
Dedicated to all types of SMEs, the main user group are micro-enterprises: In 2005,<br />
92 % of all participating enterprises had less than 50 employees, 50 % of them had<br />
less than 10. The most explaining factor is that SMEs are only eligible if they have<br />
not applied to a national technology service in the two previous years. Furthermore,<br />
the TNS tries to reach rather traditional industry’s SMEs (textile, wood, etc.) than<br />
SMEs from the Hi-Tech sector. No restrictions are in place for certain industries or<br />
technology fields.<br />
257<br />
ANNEX I – CASE STUDIES