The Impact of Intellectual Property Reward Regime on the Competitiveness of Innovative SMEs

Authors

  • Tõnis Mets University of Tartu
  • Aleksei Kelli University of Tartu

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7250/eb.2013.012

Keywords:

Competitiveness, intellectual property (IP) reward regime, IP strategy, knowledge-intensive SME.

Abstract

The paper aims to define which type of intellectual property (IP) reward regime increases the competitiveness of innovative SMEs. The authors analyse IP reward regimes and their impact on new knowledge and technology creation by SME, its IP, market, business model and other strategic issues related to collaboration of inventor, entrepreneur and investor. Two case studies and interviews have been used to map the main factors affecting IP and market strategies of biotech and electronic SMEs. The main conclusion is that IP reward regime has to be flexible and based rather on contractual arrangements than on rigid imperative legal norms.

References

T. Mets, K. Kaarna and A. Kelli, „Intellectual property – lever or barrier for the globalization of knowledge-intensive SMEs of small country origin,“ Engineering Economics, vol. 21, no. 4, pp. 387-398, 2010.

R. Luostarinen and M. Gabrielsson, “Finnish perspectives of international entrepreneurship,” in Dana, L.-P. (ed), Handbook of Research on International Entrepreneurship, Cheltenham: Edward Elgar, 2004, pp. 383-403. http://dx.doi.org/10.4337/9781845420512.00031

A. Kelli, T. Mets, H. Pisuke, E. Vasamäe and A. Värv, “Trade secrets in the intellectual property strategies of entrepreneurs: the Estonian experience,” Review of Central and East European Law, vol. 35, no. 4, pp. 315-339, 2010. http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/157303510X12650378240476

U. Petrusson, “Intellectual Property & Entrepreneurship: Creating Wealth in an Intellectual Value Chain,” CIP Working Paper Series, Göteborg: Center for Intellectual Property Studies, 2004.

B. Andersen, “If ‘intellectual property rights’ is the answer, what is the question? Revisiting the patent controversies,” Economics of Innovation and New Technology, vol. 13, no. 5, pp. 417-442, 2004. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1043859042000188692

L. Davis, “Intellectual property rights, strategy and policy,” Economics of Innovation and New Technology, vol. 13, no. 5, pp. 399-415, 2004. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/1043859042000188683

W. Cornish and D. Llewelyn, Intellectual Property: Patents, Copyright, Trade Marks and Allied Rights, 6th ed. London: Sweet & Maxwell 2007.

Communication from the Commission to the Council, the European Parliament, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions – More Research and Innovation – Investing for Growth and Employment – A Common Approach. – COM (2005) 488, 12.10.2005.

Patendiseadus (Patent Act). Entered into force on 23.05.1994. – RT I 1994, 25, 406; RT I, 28.12.2011, 1 (in Estonian).

M. Trimborn, Employees’ Inventions in Germany: A Handbook for International Business, Austin, Boston, Chicago, New York, The Netherlands: Wolters Kluwer, 2009.

C. Heath, “Remuneration of employees’ inventions in Europe and Japan,” Bimonthly Journal of the International Association for the Protection of the Industrial Property of Japan, vol. 27, no. 6, pp. 398- 407, 2002.

J. Meier, T. Schubert, and H.-R. Jaenichen, Employees’ Invention Remuneration – Money (f)or Nothing? [Online]. Available: http://www.vossiusandpartner.com/pdf/pdf_58.pdf [Accessed: Sept. 11, 2012].

H. W. Chesbrough, Open Innovation: The New Imperative for Creating and Profiting from Technology, Harvard Business School Press, 2003.

Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions. – A Single Market for Intellectual Property Rights Boosting creativity and innovation to provide economic growth, high quality jobs and first class products and services in Europe. – COM (2011) 287, 24.5.2011.

R. Krajec, “Patent reward systems – it's not about the money,” 2012. [Oline]. Available: http://www.krajec.com/blog/patent-reward-systems-%E2%80%93-its-not-about-the-money [Accessed: Sept. 10, 2012].

G. M. Karny, “How to Set a Patent Strategy: To add the most value, companies need to do more than file applications early and often,” Legal Times, vol. XXVIII, No 25.

R. Krajec, “Patents and business strategy,” Feb. 2005. [Online]. Available: http://www.krajec.com/blog/archives/2005/02/setting_out_a_p_1.html [Accessed: Apr. 24, 2010].

T. Savvides and S. Ewing, “All systems go: Maximising the value of R&D through a cohesive patent strategy,” Patent World, no. 173, pp. 27-30, June 2005.

M. Leloux and A. Groen, “Estimating business value of academic research outcomes: towards a multi-dimensional approach,” Int. J. Technology Transfer and Commercialisation, vol. 8, no. 1, pp. 3-21, 2009. http://dx.doi.org/10.1504/IJTTC.2009.023432

G. Avnimelech, D. Schwartz and R. Bar-El, “Entrepreneurial High-tech Cluster Development: Israel’s Experience with Venture Capital and Technological Incubators,” European Planning Studies Vol. 15, No. 9, October 2007, pp. 1181-1198. http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09654310701529078

Icosagen, “Fitkit,” Sept. 2012. [Online]. Available: http://www.icosagen.ee/en [Accessed: Sept. 9, 2012].

M. Ustav, “Interview,” Dec. 29, 2009, by T. Mets.

J.-S. Preden, “Interview,” by T. Mets and A. Kelli, Aug. 17, 2012.

CTO of biotech SME, “Interview,” by T. Mets, Apr. 04, 2012.

Downloads

Published

14.05.2014

How to Cite

Mets, T., & Kelli, A. (2014). The Impact of Intellectual Property Reward Regime on the Competitiveness of Innovative SMEs. Economics and Business, 24, 99-104. https://doi.org/10.7250/eb.2013.012