Innovative companies grow more. This is demonstrated by a study by the European Patent Office (EPO) and the European Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) according to which companies applying for patents, trademarks or designs have 21% more chance than the others to increase the their turnover.
Italy, at this juncture, represents a virtuous example and in the ranking relating to the protection of trademarks (12 applications submitted to the EUIPO) and European designs (9.500 applications) and wins the silver medal among the EU countries behind of Germany and the fourth position among the 25 big world players. Tenth place instead in the European ranking of patents and intentions filed with the Epo (European Patent Office) for 2018 with 4.400 patents. Globally, for the number of patent applications filed in 2018 at WIPO (International Intellectual Property Office), Italy ranks eleventh with 3.337 inventions, equal to 1,3% of the 253 applications submitted.
On the basis of these data and in order to contribute to the growth of the culture of innovation and the protection of intellectual property, the Ministry of Economic Development has launched specific measures and incentives, illustrated by the Deputy Minister for Economic Development, Stefano Buffagni, together with Carlo Sangalli, president of Unioncamere and of the Chamber of Commerce of Milan Monza Brianza Lodi, as part of an event held in Milan during which the logo of the historic brand was also presented, which governs the characteristics and methods of registering a brand in the register special 'Historical brand of national interest', as required by the Growth Decree.
During the event, the new calls measures for the valorisation of patents, trademarks, designs and for the technological transfer of research and development activities from universities and public research bodies to the industrial system. It is a coordinated set of measures worth over 50 million euro intended for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, universities and public research bodies, startups that need to be supported.
"The Chambers of Commerce have long been involved in the protection and promotion of intellectual property", underlined Carlo Sangalli, president of Unioncamere and of the Chamber of Commerce of Milan Monza Brianza Lodi. "In the last 10 years, the chamber system has managed over 56 million euros in subsidies made available by the Ministry of Economic Development thanks to which almost 4 thousand companies have been supported". According to Sangalli “patents, trademarks and designs are intangible assets which for companies constitute a determining factor for a long-term competitive advantage, with important effects on local economies. In Italy, one job out of 3, i.e. almost 7 million jobs, is found in companies that make intensive use of trademarks and patents. These companies alone contribute 46,9% of our GDP”.
