The new service of the Industrial Property Organisation (IPO), which will support start-ups and SMEs from the first steps of the initial exploration of the possibility of registering their invention, will be launched on a pilot basis this autumn.

According to what was made known at recent events of the organisation in Athens and Patras, the service concerns start-ups and SMEs, especially those oriented towards innovation and patenting.

The workshops presented two emerging sectors, "Smart Grids" and "Improving Energy Efficiency in Buildings", for which Patent Procedure Reports (PLRs) were prepared, in the framework of the implementation of the NSRF Act "Organisation of the Service for the Support of Start-ups and SMEs in Patent Exploration and Registration".

More specifically, the OBI is developing a new service for startups and SMEs, in order to support them in patenting their patents.

It is recalled that the operation has been included in the Operational Programme "Competitiveness, Entrepreneurship and Innovation 2014-2020".

The era of the 4th industrial revolution and the action of the OBI

The Athens conference was opened by Theodora Simitsis, Deputy General Manager of OBI, while the Patras conference was opened by Anastasios Thomopoulos, Executive Director of the Hellenic Academy of Industrial Property (HIAI).

Ms Simitsis said that "the majority of SMEs today are aware both of the importance of protecting their protecting with the appropriate title (trademark, patent, industrial design) and of the value that these titles add to their intellectual capital. But this knowledge alone is not enough and SMEs need support to explore the value of their own BI and to consider the options available to themso that they can proceed to protect it in the way they consider will add the most value to their own intangible intellectual capital."

Similarly, Mr. Thomopoulos noted that: "In the era of the 4th industrial revolution, the importance of industrial property is even more elevated, as it is the key to transforming the intangible assets of companies into economic capital, which in turn translates into competitive advantage in global markets. In the context of its responsibilities and the support it provides to businesses, the OBI is planning to piloting the new service next autumn and then preparing for its integration, in the operation of the OBI, with the preparation of all the organisational and regulatory aspects of this action, at a time of the Agency's choice".

In the subsequent workshops, professors with expertise in subjects related to the PLRs' disciplines took the floor and presented the latest developments in smart grids, smart cities and intelligent transport as well as energy efficiency in buildings.

The parameters, from a legal point of view, of the registration of industrial property were also presented.

On the part of the Industrial Property Organization, the organization of its new service for the support of start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises was presented by Eleni Miskou, Director of the Secretariat of Administration of the OBI. As noted: "The aim of the project is to strengthen the services offered by the OBI to start-ups and SMEs, especially those that are innovation and patent oriented. And this will be achieved by organizing and integrating into the OBI the support service for businesses, which will fully support them from the first steps of the initial exploration of the possibility of registering their invention."