Smart & Biggar celebrates World IP Day and the role of IP on business success for SMEs
Today is WORLD IP DAY and Smart & Biggar is proud to join our colleagues in the IP community in celebrating the theme “IP & SMEs: taking your ideas to market”.
Celebrated each April 26th, World Intellectual Property Day is a global annual initiative of the World Intellectual Property Organization. This year, the IP community is shining a light on the critical role of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the economy and the importance of IP in building stronger, more competitive and resilient businesses.
SMEs are considered the engine of the world’s economy and account for 90% of all companies worldwide and 70% of global employment. In Canada, there are over 1.2 million SMEs that represent 98% of all businesses and provide 88% of all jobs, in addition to driving 60% of GDP and over $216 billion in exports to markets around the world2.
Smart & Biggar is proud to work with SMEs locally and from around the world to protect, defend and leverage their IP in Canada. Our IP experts provide strategic support in respect of all aspects of IP, including patents, trademarks, industrial designs, copyright and digital media to enhance business value and enable our local clients to successfully compete on the world stage.
We also offer valuable IP insights and education to help Canadian SMEs better understand IP issues and opportunities for their business, through local partnerships including with Invest Ottawa, BDC Capital and Association of Corporate Counsel (ACC) chapters across Canada.
Talk to one of our IP experts in Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Calgary or Vancouver to find out how your SME can leverage the benefits of IP.
Smart & Biggar is Canada’s leading and largest IP firm, with over 100 IP lawyers, agents and technical consultants with deep knowledge and experience in IP located in offices across Canada.
Sources:
World Intellectual Property Organization
1 World Bank, SMEs Finance
2 Government of Canada, Key Small Business Statistics — 2020