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A more dynamic system like this would be harder for the EUIPO to administrate but would help to eradicate bias and ensure that SMEs can get the support they need , encouraging growth and ultimately spurring genuine competition .

Can you tell us about the need for IP funds on a national level in the UK and elsewhere , and what can be learnt from IP support in China and Sweden ?

Introducing and improving national-level IP funding would provide an additional source of support to SMEs . Some countries have already introduced leading policies in this space as part of plans to fuel innovation . But so far , most are missing a trick by only funding or supporting certain elements of IP .

For instance , the Chinese government heavily subsidises the operational elements of IP , such as the cost of applying for a patent . In Sweden , meanwhile , businesses can apply for funding towards IP strategy , up to a total of € 10,000 . The policies are two sides of a coin , with neither country offering support for IP in the round .

In the UK , the government recently introduced an IP Access Fund which offers up to £ 5,000 to help SMEs protect and commercialise their IP . This funding has a broader remit and can be used for services ranging from the management of IP assets to IP valuation , IP insurance and professional fees for IP services more generally . This fund better reflects the varied needs of different SMEs but could be more ambitious in the allocation it offers ; £ 5,000 is less than the amount provided to SMEs in countries like Sweden and , while still helpful , does not stretch far in the world of IP .

What advice would you offer SMEs who aren ’ t sure where to start ?

IP needs vary substantially from industry to industry . In some sectors , the connection between IP and product is strong and , when this is the case , patents tend to be the most useful form of IP to pursue . For example , this is true of the pharma industry and the invention of new drugs . An IP strategy meanwhile might be less crucial for pharma companies than businesses in the telecoms industry , which is already overflowing with patents and has much IP overlap .

For tech SMEs , there ’ s a wealth of opportunity in the IP space , with much value to be captured . The downside of this is that it can mean tech SMEs don ’ t know where to begin . The first challenge is prioritisation and IP services specialists can help with that .

It ’ s also important for leaders of tech SMEs to get a fundamental understanding of IP early on . We ’ ve increasingly been seeing a trend in which small companies and scaleups are only having their first real exposure to IP when they ’ re informed of an issue , such as an accusation that they are infringing on another company ’ s rights . When this is the case , businesses are exposing themselves to significant financial risk . We ’ re also seeing many businesses missing out on the opportunity to patent innovations and actively protect their trade secrets because they lack the knowledge of how to do this or are not acting early enough .

How do you see this issue evolving , and what else needs to be done to properly address it ?

The launch of this EUIPO fund will hopefully be the first of many new policies that we see implemented to support SMEs with IP services .

As has been widely recognised , SMEs are vital to post-pandemic economic recovery – particularly as they are usually on a stronger growth path than larger corporations . I believe SMEs are also the future of environmental technology and their innovations will be central to whether we can achieve the 2030 climate goals .

However , if access to IP services is not adequately supported , the ability of SMEs to capitalise on their innovations , contribute to the economy and climate and , ultimately , challenge larger businesses and multinationals , is limited .

Governments should view this fund as a foundation of support but seek to provide additional and more flexible funding . Above all , they must look at measures to support IP on the whole , rather than only supporting certain services . �

Erik Oskarsson , Principal at Rouse Consultancy

SMES ARE VITAL TO POST- PANDEMIC ECONOMIC RECOVERY – PARTICULARLY AS THEY ARE USUALLY ON A STRONGER GROWTH PATH THAN LARGER CORPORATIONS .