Could you briefly describe your core expertise and field of activity within the Enterprise Europe Network? What are key services you offer to your clients?
I work for ARC Consulting, the EEN coordinator for Bulgaria. Our core activity is in the field of innovations where the intellectual property (IP) issues are very important. My expertise is in the field of IP, with more than 20 years of experience, incl. as a university lecturer. I support our clients with IP consultations and trainings and I also act as appraiser in the Innovative Enterprise of the Year Annual Contest.
What does it mean to you to be a European IP Helpdesk Ambassador? And what do you like most about it?
It gives me the opportunity to have up-to-date information in the IP field and also – the responsibility to share it effectively with the Bulgarian stakeholders. And this is the best of it – to offer our clients knowledge and opportunities in the IP field in a timely manner as concerns both innovations and internationalization. Networking with colleagues with the same IP mission is also a plus.
How would you describe the internal interaction and cooperation with your Enterprise Europe Network colleagues?
I would say that it’s very fruitful. The colleagues are interested in IP and we contact effectively to strengthen the expertise of our clients in the field. Examples are the trainings based on their initiative - on copyright, utility models, European Patent, PCT, patent data bases, trademarks and geographical indications, and IP generally as a tool for business support and internationalization.
In your opinion, what are current “hot” topics and questions related to Intellectual Property (IP) in your region/country?
A very important topic today, not only for the Bulgarian stakeholders, is the Unitary Patent, just started in June, after such a long expectation, together with the Unified Patent Court. Another topic is the SME Fund and especially – the expanding options for funding, connected with patents (incl. European patents) and EU plant varieties. The new Community Design easy filing system must also be mentioned.
What are major challenges SMEs face with regard to IP? And what kind of support is needed, you think?
The main challenge: to make SMEs understand that “let’s put the product on the market and later think of IP” does not work for them, because “later” is sometimes inevitably late, e.g. for patents, as far as novelty can be destroyed with market release, or other problems as imitations can arise, which can be harder to address without IP. Information adapted to the needs of SMEs is therefore a must.
Phone: +359-2-9733000
E-mail: fanny.koleva@online.bg