OECD Studies on SMEs and Entrepreneurship Intellectual Assets and Innovation The SME Dimension

Intellectual Property Rights Can Be Instrumental For Smes To Protect And Build On Their Innovations; Position Themselves Competitively Vis-à-vis Larger Enterprises In Global Markets; Gain Access To Revenues; Signal Current And Prospective Value To Investors, Competitors And Partners; Access Knowledge Markets And Networks; Open Up New Commercial Pathways; Or Segment Existing Markets. However, While There Is Increasing Recognition Of Their Significance, As Well As The Need For Appropriate Intellectual Asset Management For Smes Across Oecd Countries, There Are Few Regulatory Frameworks Or Specific Instruments Directed To Smes. This Is In Part Due The Pace Of Technological Innovation, Which Often Exceeds The Time It Takes For Policy Makers To Create Appropriate Responses To The Changing Landscape Of Intellectual Property. This Study Explores The Relations Between Sme Intellectual Asset Management, Innovation And Competitiveness In Different National And Sectoral Contexts. It Provides Insights On The Ability Of Smes To Access And Utilise The Protection Systems Available To Them And Identifies Key Challenges For Smes In Appropriating Full Value From Iprs. It Also Investigates Effectiveness Of Regulatory Frameworks And Policy Measures To Support Sme Access To Iprs, Identifying Best Practices And Proposing Policy Recommendations Foreword -- Executive Summary -- Intellectual Asset Management, Innovation And Smes -- Australia: Intellectual Property Solutions For Innovative Smes -- Italy: Channelling Creativity Into Competitiveness -- Nordic Countries: Matching Exceptional Design And Creativity With Progressive Policy -- United Kingdom: Intellectual Asset Management Strategies For Diverse Innovations -- The United States: Balancing Robust Protection With Rapid Innovation -- Annex A: Sme Case Studies: Template -- Annex B Survey Questionnaire. Includes Bibliographical References. ""Foreword"" ""Table of Contents"" ""Executive Summary"" ""Chapter 1. Intellectual Asset Management, Innovation and SMEs"" ""Introduction"" ""Intellectual asset management is critical for turning SMEsâ€? innovation potential into market value"" ""Objective and method of the study"" ""Box 1.1. Methodology"" ""Table 1.1. Profile of case studies across participating countries"" ""Summary of key findings"" ""The intellectual property regulatory landscape"" ""SME intellectual asset management practices"" ""Use of formal intellectual property rights is directly related to firm size"" ""SMEs tend to adopt strategic methods, such as trust and secrecy, more than formal rights""""SMEs appropriate value from intellectual property rights in different ways"" ""Obstacles and challenges to SMEsâ€? use of intellectual property"" ""Policy recommendations"" ""Raise awareness about the strategic opportunities offered by intellectual property rights"" ""Diffuse knowledge about the variety of intellectual property rights and the strategic objectives they serve"" ""Foster intellectual property education and training, bringing services and expertise closer to SMEs"" ""Address SMEsâ€? financial constraints in accessing intellectual property rights and provide strategic support""""Make the intellectual property right system overall more “SME-friendlyâ€?"" ""Improve cross-border information, co-ordination and enforcement"" ""Improve the metrics for measuring SME intellectual assets and evaluating their management"" ""Areas for further study"" ""Notes"" ""References"" ""Chapter 2. Australia: Intellectual Property Solutions for Innovative SMEs"" ""Introduction"" ""Methodology"" ""Intellectual property regulation in Australia"" ""I) Australian institutional framework""""Table 2.1. Australian intellectual property institutional framework"" ""ii) Types of intellectual property rights in Australia"" ""Table 2.2. Intellectual property rights available in Australia and their characteristics"" ""iii) Innovation with regard to standard patents"" ""Table 2.3. Innovation patent with regard to standard patent"" ""v) Schedule of fees"" ""Table 2.4. Fees for selected intellectual property protection in Australia"" ""SME issues and challenges"" ""Recent developments and emerging trends"" ""Empirical evidence"" ""Survey data""""Types of innovation"" ""Table 2.5. Summary of innovative activity in Australian business, key indicators, 2007-08 and 2008-09"" ""Table 2.6. Summary of innovative activity in Australian business1, by employment size, 2008-09"" ""Barriers to innovation"" ""Table 2.7. Barriers to innovation, by innovation status, 2007-08 and 2008-09"" ""Table 2.8. Innovation active businesses: barriers to innovation, by employment size 2008-09"" ""Sources of ideas and information for innovation""