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Benchmarking National - PRO INNO Europe

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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

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