حمایت از اختراع و نوآوری در فنلاند مرکزی : سطح آگاهی IP الهام بخش

The substantial problems that exist in the dissemination of the message about the potential value of all aspects of intellectual property to entrepreneurs and SMEs are explored, in the specific context of the Central Finland region. A case study on existing levels of IP awareness showed the extent of the problems. The article then describes the ways in which this issue has been addressed, including the production of a free single page guide helping users to sharply focus on the link between key business activities and strategies and the value of IP in this context.

Finland has a dazzling reputation as a country of high technology and high-grade education. But there is one serious deficiency in all levels of education. The teaching of usage of the patent system and exploitation of patent information is widely missing. Large companies and state organizations have resources to train new intellectual property specialists for their own needs but the entrepreneurs establishing small and medium sized companies are left dangerously unaware of IP matters. This is a serious handicap particularly if we keep in mind that increasing amount of new innovations is made and should be made in SMEs in Finland. Failures in patenting activities and neglecting prior art search with harmful outcomes are not the only IP problems SMEs have. Serious mistakes concerning IPR are often done due to hasty decisions made in designing marketing elements like company name, trademarks and web domains. Missing understanding in IPR issues leads also to making disadvantageous commitments with designers, subcontractors and companions, for example concerning copyright. It is also very common that entrepreneurs lose exclusive rights for their products by too early disclosure of their R&D outcomes. Raising intellectual property awareness among SMEs is essential in building up competitiveness and securing the benefit of their R&D outcomes. But the problem is that small companies and startup entrepreneurs do not pay attention to the message. And why would they? Raising IP awareness has been done emphasizing patents on such a scale that patents and IPR are widely understood as synonyms. And, for most of the companies patenting issues are not seen as relevant until they meet with some IPR conflict. Raising IP awareness from my experience should start from showing the relevance between intellectual property rights and business strategy. Every company must design marketing elements in a manner that a brand can be created and upheld. In long term marketing, brand assets tend to define the value of a company. Patented technological achievements are also very important intellectual property but they are nevertheless exploited under some brand eventually. This article explains the achievements in inspiring IP awareness in the Central Finland region. An intellectual property awareness study is introduced as a starting point. A new IP promoting tool and consequent developments for distributing IP education are presented. This article is based on the author's lecture given at the EPO's PATLIB conference in Manchester, UK, in May and June 2012 [1].

IP awareness is a vital matter for regional and national competitiveness and often a succeed or fail issue for entrepreneurs. Do we invent and innovate for others to benefit or do we protect our R&D outcomes and intellectual property? The performed study shows, however, that there is significant lack of awareness of IP matters. The need for simplified information has been evident and it is now available in the form of the IP Quick Guide. The IP Quick Guide sparked a lot of activity and interest. Its consequent developments – the eBook and the newly formulated IP teaching content for entrepreneurs – are powerful tools in raising IP awareness. Now we can easily reach the majority of new entrepreneurs with the IP message and we can meet the growing demand for IP information by SMEs. But we also need to address the IP awareness needs of the forthcoming entrepreneurs in the next few years. In this regard, I have been assisting the national 4H youth organization [15] in their efforts in educating young entrepreneurs. The innovation card game I invented some years ago has been a popular tool among those 10–15 year old children. The card game shows the link between IP and a business idea. Also a colorful Road Map to intellectual property I designed a decade ago has been a useful tool in teaching college and university students to understand the lifecycle of a new venture and its intellectual property. But to explain them more thoroughly would need more space and an extra article someday.