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IP Management Clinic for SMEs Program

The Intellectual Property Management Clinic for SMEs Program (IPMC) is a four-month program that supports innovative companies in formulating their IP strategies based on their business plan and intangible assets portfolio.

The program focuses on the IP-related aspects of the companies' product or technology across its business cycle, both from the perspective of an IP rights holder and of a user of third parties’ IPRs. The selected companies receive support to better manage and use their IP through personalized, one-on-one mentorship, expert advice and training.

Explore current opportunities

Featured

an image showing innovation development journey from A to B as a strategic process on a chess board
(Image: iStock/Getty Plus/Olivier Le Moal)

IP Strategy Checklist for SMEs

Need help with your company's IP assets? Use our step-by-step IP strategy checklist to start you off.

How can IPMC benefit my business?

Every innovative company has unique business challenges that require a tailored IP strategy – an action plan to identify, develop, protect and leverage a company's portfolio of IP assets. Successfully implemented, an IP strategy allows businesses to gain competitive advantage and drives profitability.

All IP Management Clinics share a common methodology, format and duration, though some offer different degrees of specialization in certain areas of IP. Companies selected by WIPO benefit from various activities spread over four months, including:

  • One-on-one mentorship with renowned IP expert(s) selected by WIPO on how to better use IP for growth. A mix of IP-related expertise is on the panel, e.g. IP strategy, IP management, branding, valuation, licensing and franchising
  • Training opportunities and access to practical tools and services
  • Networking opportunities amongst peers

While the program is open to companies from around the world and from all industries, some editions of IPMC may be open to companies that work with specific technology only. The program would be of particular value to companies that are already making use of the IP system to support their work. 

The program is conducted in English and is free-of-charge.

Frequently Asked Questions

The IPMC program is complimentary for enterprises. However, we expect companies to commit their time to ensure effective outcomes from the program.

We expect companies to spend at least 6-10 hours for mentorship sessions with the expert(s). This can be flexibly arranged with the expert(s) depending on the needs and schedules of the company, and can be either in-person or virtual meetings. This excludes the time that should be set aside for training (see below).

Curated training will be offered to companies as part of program. These will include modules from the WIPO Academy (online distance learning).

There will be a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) between the IP expert (s) and the company.

For any further questions on the IP Management Clinics program, please contact us.

IP Management Clinic success stories

Farmers harvesting buckwheat in a field
(IMAGE: BAOWE)

BAOWE – A Woman Entrepreneur Network in Bhutan

Helping Rural Entrepreneurs to Add Value to their Products in Bhutan and Increase Market Reach

Shelley Burich, in her vanilla plantation, holding a vanilla flower with both hands
(IMAGE: VAOALA VANILLA)

Organic Vanilla from Samoa

A Passionate Vanilla Farmer Hopes to Put Samoa Vanilla on the World Map.

A large shrimp pond with a wooden passageway in the middle, and equipped with a yellow floating sensor
(IMAGE: TEPBAC)

Tepbac Sustainable Shrimp Farming Technology

Helping Small Shrimp Farmers with New Technology Tools for Increased, Sustainable Production in Viet Nam.

an image showing an innovative product - Curetex’s yarn made from washi, traditional Japanese paper.
(Photo: © Curetex Corporation)

Curetex’s Washi-based Organic Fabric

Meet Curetex Corporation, Japan, that benefited from IPMC's 2022 edition.

IP Management Clinic programs

Current opportunities

Previous editions

2024:

2023:

Testimonials

Have a look at what previous IPMC participants have to say about the program:


Mr. Ben Reeve

Co-Founder,
Modern Synthesis,
UK-based biomaterial innovative company


Fantastic program, providing a huge amount of knowledge about the importance of aligning IP and business strategy with the key risks and related mitigations (including employees’ and ownership considerations). As a result of this training, we have adapted our IP strategy to perform quarterly IP reviews, competitor analysis updates and tracking systems for customer projects.

Mr. Masaki Fujishiro

Chairman,
Curetex Corporation,
innovative Japanese entity manufacturing textiles using rice paper


Through the networking opportunities, we identified new business connections with possibilities to market our products in Europe and South-Africa. We now understand the value of our IP assets and we work towards improving our IP knowledge and management strategy to increase our competitiveness.

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