Benchmarking National - PRO INNO Europe

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BENCHMARKING NATIONAL AND REGIONAL SUPPORT SERVICES FOR SMES IN THE FIELD OF INTELLECTUAL AND INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY
elements covering especially the later stages of IPR usage seem to be of less scope
and significance in the overall service context than the parts dealing with
registration and development. Many services target multiple phases of IPR usage at
the same time.
The fact that a rather large quantity of services come in the form of integrated
packages causes severe multiple-counting problems when trying to classify these
services. In principle, one could distinguish between embedded services (that is,
IPR services that are part of a service portfolio where the portfolio itself is not
targeted at the issue of IPR) and truly integrated IPR services (where several IPR
services such as a subsidy, information material on IPR and training in IPR matters
together form a larger IPR service portfolio). An example of an embedded service
could be a thematic support programme in the field of biotechnology, where R&D
projects are supported and a small service element deals with IPR consulting.
Similarly, IPR advice offered in incubators and technology parks can be also seen as
embedded services.
Several options exist on how to classify such services, including those pre-developed
by the World Intellectual Property Institution (WIPO) and by the European
Commission (see Table 5). Following an initial assessment by the research partners,
and a review of the available information–especially the qualitative service
descriptions –, it was decided to use the WIPO definition as a basis for classification
and revise it slightly for the scope of the underlying study. The goal was to develop
a classification system with a minimum amount of multiple counts, a comprehensive
number of categories and with a labelling system which, on one hand, provides
more information on the type of activities implemented by the services and, on the
other hand, reflects the real world of service provision (in the sense of evidencebased
policy analysis).
Thus, the classification system applied in the scope of the underlying study
distinguishes between five different categories (“functional classification system”):
1. (Pro-active) awareness raising activities and public relations: This service
type actively addresses and/or contacts SMEs and promotes the
usage of the IPR system. Services of this type are usually road shows,
open days, exhibitions, etc.
2. (Passive) information provision services: These services provide
information on a stand-by basis for interested SMEs, such as patent
information centres, search services in databases, etc.
3. Training: This category subsumes all educational activities in IPR
matters where SMEs do benefit to a larger proportion.
Graph 7 Phase of IPR usage targeted, percentage of services *)
%
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
49
research on innovative
projects and related IPRs
74
process of development/
registration of IPRs
*) Multiple counts allowed
Source: Austrian Institute for SME Research, n = 279
37
acquisition of
existing IPRs
60
utilisation of IPRs