Andrew Beale O.B.E. (Director, IP Wales) [right of picture] receives the
Judges Special Award from Kenneth Adamo (Partner, Jones Day)
at the WORLDleaders European Intellectual Property Awards

A world class example of third mission activity in support of the knowledge economy

In our first phase of European funded operation our mission was to provide Welsh micro, small & medium sized enterprises (mSMEs) with the knowledge and financial means to commercialize their IP assets. Our objectives were - to raise levels of awareness and understanding of IP, to allow businesses to make informed commercial choices about protecting their IP assets, and to help Welsh mSMEs sustain and grow their businesses through the commercial use of these IP assets, by integrating an IP strategy within their overall business plan. Since our launch in June 2002, we have provided IP strategic advice to over 750 Welsh clients, helped to capture and protect 205 patents, 60 trade marks and 12 industrial designs around the World and furnished financial support for 25 IP licensing deals.
Our finding is the main ingredients for the success of a mSME knowledge based business are access to:- advanced technology & know-how; good management; finance. Our experience is a better management team will make more commercial use of a poorer technology than a poorer management team will make of a better technology and finance will seek out good management teams. We have worked with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in Geneva to promote the improvement of Intellectual Assets (IAs) management by mSMEs.

Free Guides on Intellectual Assets Management (click to download)

• Understanding Open Innovation
• Understanding Intellectual Assets
• Establishing the Legal Freedom to Operate in your Market Place
• Restricting Competitor Access to your Market Place
• Extracting Added Value from your Intellectual Assets

We are also working with Welsh based IP Practitioners to encourage better IAs Management by Student Researchers within Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM):

Free Presentations on Intellectual Assets Management (click to download)

• IAs Management for Postgraduate Researchers in Biotechnology – [Abel & Imray] 
• IAs Management for Postgraduate Researchers in Computer Science - [Urquhart-Dykes & Lord]
• IAs Management for Postgraduate Researchers in Engineering –[Wynne-Jones, Laine & James]
• Preparing for Private Equity Investment – [Capital Law]

A constituent member of the Institute of International Shipping and Trade Law  IP Wales incorporates a vibrant research agenda to provide insight on national and international IP issues, and inform policy-making decisions.