European firms failing to protect their innovations

One of the Innobarometer 2004 survey findings reveal that a
vast majority of European firms do not take any measures
to protect their innovations through patents or trademarks.

The Innobarometer survey carried out in September-October 2004
looked into “experience of European managers in innovative
activities”. Its objective was to assess how firms
innovate and how they support their innovative activities. It
also examined managers’ views on national regulations and
firms’ experience of public support. 

Among the findings of the survey are that:

• a vast majority of innovative firms have not applied for
  patents or registered a trademark to protect their invention.
• only a minority of managers find that national regulations in
  product or process innovations obstruct their firms’
  competitiveness.
• half of the managers find that the most useful public
  initiatives for innovation are those “supporting collaboration” and
  “training for innovation”.
• the “successful, innovative” firms are more inclined to hire
  new university graduates, to train their staff and to participate
  in innovation networks. They are also more aware of government
  efforts to subsidise innovation.

The survey concludes by saying that “investment in efforts
to support the innovative effort combined with a strategy of
openness are key factors contributing to the status of successful
innovative firms”. 

The survey was carried out by EOS Gallup Europe at the
request of the Commission. The 4,534 people interviewed were
“top-level executives” of small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs)
with between 20 and 499 employees.

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