International IP SME Helpdesks Stakeholders Conference 2024: From skills to Profit - The Role of Intellectual Property in SMEs Global Ambitions

In a bid to shed light on the dynamic interplay between innovation, intellectual property (IP) skills development, and economic growth, the International IP SME Helpdesks recently hosted their annual Stakeholders Conference. This year's event, held within the framework of the European Year of Skills 2023, aimed to guide small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as they navigate the intricate landscape of global expansion.

The International IP SME Helpdesks (Africa, China, India, Latin America, and South-East Asia), are initiatives supported by the European Commission and the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA), and are designed to assist European SMEs in protecting and enforcing their Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) when dealing with international markets.

The conference gathered stakeholders, policymakers, SMEs, Business Support Organisations (BSOs) and entrepreneurs, in a collaborative effort to foster connections and enhance IP skills. These skills are crucial in addressing the challenges and opportunities encountered when managing IP strategies in international markets.

Notable speakers included Natalia Martínez Páramo, Head of Unit, European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA), and Kamil Kiljanski, Head of Unit, DG-GROW, European Commission, who highlighted the pivotal role of SMEs in Europe's cultural and economic landscape. Silvana Marcotulli, Chair of the Working Group Intellectual Property Rights, European Digital SME Alliance, discussed challenges faced by SMEs in the digital sector when going international.

Alessandra Capriglia, Project Manager at China IP SME Helpdesk, introduced the International IP Helpdesks and their services, emphasising their role in upgrading IP skills for business support organisations and SMEs.

The event, which featured a diverse range of voices—from institutions and industry organizations to entrepreneurs and IP experts—explored the critical intersections of IP, internationalization, profit, and skills development. The discussions revealed insights into the multifaceted landscape of innovation and economic growth. The European Commission provided policy perspectives, the European Digital SME Alliance shared sector-specific insights, and entrepreneurs offered firsthand experiences. IP experts from the Helpdesks provided practical guidance on legal frameworks, sharing best practices tailored to their respective regions of expertise.

The conference addressed the complexity of IP protection when expanding into new markets, emphasising the need for adaptable skill sets. Key takeaways included the importance of market-specific skills, regulatory knowledge, marketing analysis, adaptability, efficient supply chain use, and a robust IP strategy for successful global expansion.

The conference also featured SMEs sharing their experiences with the Helpdesks:

Mohammed Ahmed, Founder of DentPlanet (Belgium):

DentPlanet prioritised the China market in its business strategy, and after protecting its IP in the EU the SME planned to do the same in China in early 2022. The China IP SME Helpdesk assisted the company in understanding the nuances of patent types in China, in dealing with infringing products on Alibaba, and in drafting agreements with a Chinese manufacturer.

Karlijn Vlasblom, Founder of Toot! (Netherlands):

Toot! expanded into the South-East Asia region, and seeked guidance from the South-East Asia IP SME Helpdesk on legal aspects in regards to protecting the visual identity of the company during internationalisation.

Pablo Vera, Founder of Areland (Spain):

Areland, an ecotourism project in Costa Rica, received guidance from the Latin America IP SME Helpdesk in creating a distinctive brand, protecting visual identity, and navigating IP legal issues.

Yerassimos Lazaris, Trade Councillor of the Embassy of Greece in India:

Mr. Lazaris shared insights into how the India IP SME Helpdesk proved useful for the Embassy to understand how Greek companies can register Geographical Indications (GIs).

The event concluded with a panel discussion featuring IP Business Advisors from the Helpdesks, who delved into a variety of IP topics in the context of market entry and skills development. Key takeaways included the existence of two distinct systems for protecting IPRs, advice on protection routes, essential steps before filing a trademark, the significance of geographical indications protection, and insights into preventing and combating counterfeits.

The conference underscored the complexities of IP protection when expanding into new markets, emphasizing the resources available to support SMEs in navigating these challenges effectively. SMEs were encouraged to seek advice and request one-on-one consultation sessions with IP Advisors through the IP Helpdesks, emphasising their availability and free-of-charge services for the benefit of European SMEs.

Get in touch with us:

Africa IP SME Helpdesk africa [dot] iphelpdeskeuipo [dot] europa [dot] eu (africa[dot]iphelpdesk[at]euipo[dot]europa[dot]eu)

China IP SME Helpdesk questionchina-iprhelpdesk [dot] eu (question[at]china-iprhelpdesk[dot]eu) 

India IP SME Helpdeskindiaiprhelpdesk [dot] eu (india[at]iprhelpdesk[dot]eu)

Latin America IP SME Helpdesk infolatinamerica-ipr-helpdesk [dot] eu (info[at]latinamerica-ipr-helpdesk[dot]eu)

South-East Asia IP SME Helpdesk  expertsea-iphelpdesk [dot] eu (expert[at]sea-iphelpdesk[dot]eu)