DESCRIPTION 

According to the EUIPO Strategic Plan 2030 (SP2030), SMEs remain underrepresented in the IP system, with only 10 percent making use of IP rights. To address this gap, SP2030 introduces several key initiatives aimed at enhancing SMEs’ access to and engagement with intellectual property. These include expanding outreach beyond IP specialists, promoting ADR, establishing IPR helpdesks across the world, developing a widely accepted IP Valuation Methodology, and creating a European IP platform connecting SMEs with investors and capital. Within this framework, ECTA is represented in several EUIPO and WIPO projects focused on SME IP support.

SME-Link Committee members act as a connection with their respective delegating ECTA Committees, thus fostering collaboration across these Committees. This ensures that ECTA supports implementation of EUIPO SP2030 SMEs initiatives, closely monitors all EU and national IP policies affecting SMEs, builds and formalizes SMEs partner network and actively develops proposals to enhance SMEs engagement with IP system, to help SMEs understand, manage, and value their IP assets, as business assets, ultimately promoting a competitive environment across the EU, where IP becomes an integral part of SMEs’ business strategies and success.

MISSION STATEMENT 

The SME-Link Committee is mandated to help ECTA initiate actions and engagements and oversee strategic projects and initiatives that advance the effective protection , management and utilisation of intellectual property within the SMEs sector to ensure that SMEs are better represented and supported in leveraging IP as a driver of growth and innovation. Serving as a bridge between ECTA Committees and external initiatives, the SME -Link facilitates collaboration, closely monitors SMEs-related projects, and actively contributes to initiatives such as EUIPO’s and WIPO’s SMEs programmes.