Good practice:

The Intellectual Property mission at Regional Agency for Economic Development

The Occitanie Region considers the Intellectual Property as an important part of the Economic Development for the SMEs and dedicates a mission to help the companies in this consideration. However, the IP profession in France is strictly ruled. At the Regional Agency we have developed an individual & personalized accompaniment complementary to the local IP specialists , a collective accompaniment through professional training operated by a specialized partner and class actions. Moreover, the SMEs can be supported by regional financings taking into account the IP. This accompaniment shall enable the companies to better integrate the IP in all dimnesions and discuss with the local professionals.

Human resources (knowing the subject), financing the IP for a company

More than 500 SMEs individually accompanied in 10 years, more than 300 persons trained through the IP trainings in Toulouse, 2 class actions (23 SMEs trained) with 2 international symposia in Toulouse, over 20 IP workshops, a number of local IP specialists still growing.

IP Intellectual Property services are important for the Development and value of the SMEs. The Innovation agencies are aware of this increasing need but still, the majority of them is working with external services to support their SMEs.
It's important to provide an individual & personalized accompaniment complementary to the local IP specialists with a global vision of the innovation project and of the SME’s strategy, a collective accompaniment through professional training operated by a specialized partner or class actions.
It's a unique case in France where a person with an IP experience is dedicated to this special service for the companies, creates the necessary links with local IP practitioners. This practice is transferable to the other 2 regions composing our Euroregion but also to any other region in Europe.