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EURICE coordinates new "European Intellectual Property Helpdesk"

Service initiative by the European Commission supports SMEs and researchers in using their innovation potential

After the successful completion of the previous funding period, a new consortium of four partners now takes up its work for the next contractual term of the European Intellectual Property (IP) Helpdesk. The initiative, which was initiated by the European Commission 20 years ago, supports cross-border SME and research activities to manage, disseminate and valorise technologies and other IP assets at an EU level.

The new consortium receives EUR 3 million funding for an initial period of three years and will be coordinated by EURICE. Having been involved in the initiative from the very beginning, EURICE was in charge of the training and communication activities in the previous three terms (2011-2018). "We are pleased to reconfirm our commitment for the Helpdesk, and to be able to pass our experience on to the new team", said Jörg Scherer, Managing Director of EURICE and coordinator of the new consortium.

The consortium is completed by the Spanish academic partners University of Alicante and University of Navarra as well as the Munich-based technology transfer company TUM-Tech GmbH.

Strategic shift of focus: from IPR support to solution-oriented IP management and capacity building

While building on the achievements and vast experience gained in previous contractual periods, the new service will focus even more on the strategic management and hands-on use of IP:

"The shift from 'IPR' to 'IP' is not only reflected in the new official name of the initiative, but is part of a strategic realignment. Our vision is to move from providing IPR information to a broader understanding of the value and potential of new ideas, research results and technological developments", Jörg Scherer said. "We want to raise awareness for the innovation potential of modern IP management, which by far exceeds managing legal processes and IP portfolios, but should be seen as an integral part of a company’s general business strategy and corporate development."

Increased involvement of external experts

In order to truly meet the users' needs and help them develop their own capacities in strategic IP management, the new team will reinforce the involvement of external experts with strong backgrounds and hands-on experience in specific fields such as technology transfer, licensing or Open Innovation concepts.

As before, all services of the European IP Helpdesk will be free of charge. While central offers such as the helpline, library and training scheme will be maintained, the portfolio will be complemented by new and reviewed online information formats, case studies and an even more intensive event and training schedule specifically targeting SMEs.

Moreover, the team will reinforce the well-established 'Ambassador' cooperation scheme with the Enterprise Europe Network. Aiming to strengthen collaboration and to increase the overall visibility of the European IP Helpdesk services not only towards the respective local innovation landscape, the scheme will also support SMEs on national level helping them foster competitiveness and growth through a better understanding of their IP assets.

About the European IP Helpdesk

The European IP Helpdesk provides free-of-charge first-line support on IP-related issues aiming to help current and potential beneficiaries of EU-funded projects, as well as EU SMEs, manage their Intellectual Property assets.

The European IP Helpdesk is managed by the European Commission's Executive Agency for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (EASME), with policy guidance provided by the European Commission's Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs (DG Grow).

The information provided by the European IP Helpdesk is not of a legal or advisory nature and no responsibility is accepted for the results of any actions made on its basis. Moreover, it cannot be considered as the official position of EASME or the European Commission. Neither EASME nor the European Commission nor any person acting on behalf of EASME or of the European Commission is responsible for the use which might be made of this information.

www.iprhelpdesk.eu

Consortium

Download the full press release (in German)

The initiative officially kicked off its activities with a project meeting attended by representatives of EASME and the European Commission in Brussels on 25 January 2019.
The initiative officially kicked off its activities with a project meeting attended by representatives of EASME and the European Commission in Brussels on 25 January 2019.
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European IP Helpdesk
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About Eurice

Eurice offers knowledge-based consultancy services in project and innovation management.

Eurice Head Office
Heinrich-Hertz-Allee 1
66386 St. Ingbert
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Phone: +49 6894 388130
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Eurice Berlin
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13407 Berlin
Germany
Phone: +49 30 374415840
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