An article by Anja Dreher, Dipl.-Ing. (FH), owner of AHE Engineering, Memmingen
Good ideas are the foundation of all development and progress. Information about patents, licenses, and funding opportunities provides the confidence needed to make decisions on the path to success.
At the German Patent and Trademark Office (DPMA) alone, approximately 63,000 patent applications and about 15,000 utility model applications were filed in 2013. However, the number of innovations worthy of protection is significantly higher.
It is often small and medium-sized enterprises in particular that shy away from the effort and/or costs associated with intellectual property rights. But help is available specifically for them:
Through the SIGNO funding program and its components—the SME Patent Initiative and the Inventor Advisory Service—the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) aims to improve the framework conditions for innovation in Germany and thereby increase the conversion of research and development results into marketable products. The goal is to ensure the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises.
SIGNO offers a wide range of support options to help you take your idea from concept to market-ready product, with its inventor advisory service providing initial, fundamental guidance.
AHE engineering, as a SIGNO partner in the region, offers the “Inventor Advisory Service”—a unique, free introductory consultation on intellectual property rights. The BMWi covers the cost of this service. The prerequisite is that the invention has not yet been introduced to the market. The consultation focuses on the inventor’s specific questions and individual situation.
The following questions, among others, may be discussed:
- How do I protect my invention?
- How can I determine the value of my patent?
- How do I market my idea?
- Where can I find companies that offer licenses?
- Where can I find additional support?
The SME Patent Initiative is aimed at all SMEs that have not yet filed a patent application or whose last application was filed more than five years ago.
Under this component of the SIGNO funding program, which is divided into five steps, up to 50 percent of the incurred costs are funded in each step, subject to maximum funding limits.
These five steps range from conducting a prior art search, through a cost-benefit analysis and the filing of a national utility model or patent application, as well as preparatory activities for commercialization (marketing, prototype development, etc.), all the way to filing a European or international application.
Applications are submitted directly to the regional SIGNO partner, who is also available at any time throughout the entire project period—which lasts a maximum of 18 months—to answer questions.
The inventor consultation session hosted by AHE engineering will take place on September 16, 2014, at the initiative of the new innovation platform “nanuuu” of the Ulm/Neu-Ulm Urban Development Association and in cooperation with the law firm Anhäusser, Unger & Bergien. During individual one-on-one appointments on this day, we’ll discuss your opportunities and options free of charge. Therefore, registration is absolutely required—it’s easy to sign up at nanuuu@ulm.de.
AHE Engineering
In der Neuen Welt 8
87700 Memmingen
T +49 [0] 8331 83 337 -23
F +49 [0] 8331 83 337 -29
mailto:dreher@ahe-engineering.com
http://www.ahe-engineering.com/
