IP basics
Intellectual property has become a key building block for the commercial success and competitiveness of many companies – and especially for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) – as modern economies are increasingly driven by knowledge-based services and products. It is thus fundamental for SMEs to be aware of the value of their intangible assets and to set up informed strategies to capture, manage, protect and potentially enforce their IP.
Moreover, IP management plays an important role in maximising the impact of research and innovation projects safeguarding that bright ideas and ground-breaking research findings are turned into value-creating goods and services.
But where to begin? While there is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to IP management, and strategies should always be closely aligned with the overall strategy and individual setting of your business or R&I project, there are some IP basics that will help you take the first steps.
In this section we bring together central publications provided by each of our regional IP Helpdesk teams that give an overview of key aspects to consider when tackling IP management in different settings and regions.
China IP SME Helpdesk
Learn more about managing IP in China
European IP Helpdesk
India IP SME Helpdesk
Learn more about managing IP in India
Latin America IP SME Helpdesk
South-East Asia IP SME Helpdesk
Assessing your IP
Knowing your IP is the basis for developing a sound IP management strategy – especially when doing business in foreign markets. We have created some useful tools that will help you get a clearer picture.
Support for European SMEs
In order to provide the necessary support mechanisms, the European Commission has developed an extensive network of in-depth programs and resources to help European SMEs thrive in today's economy. No matter the stage of development of your SME, assistance for the following key topics can be found below.
One-Stop-Shop Services
Funding
Competitiveness
- Gate2Growth
- Competitiveness and Innovation Framework Programme (CIP)
- Analysis of Competitiveness
- Enterprise and Industry Online Magazine
