This call aims to provide support services to assist EU SMEs to both protect and enforce their intellectual property rights in or relating to the ASEAN and MERCOSUR regions and Chile. The target audience is both European SMEs in the EU and those already present in or investing in or otherwise doing business in or with these regions.

Projects to be supported will focus on one or preferably both of the following two priority areas:

• Lot 1: ASEAN IPR SME Helpdesk
• Lot 2: MERCOSUR and Chile IPR SME Helpdesk

Services to be provided in each lot should include:

• Providing EU SMEs with first line advice services, on IPR protection and enforcement in the covered region(s), and expert liaison and signposting services to relevant government administrations, attorneys,or consultants for further follow-up as appropriate. In particular, advice should be provided on challenges which arise in a cross-border manner across the target countries. These services should include a physical presence in one major economic centre of the covered region(s) in order to facilitate co-ordination with EUand relevant  organisations based in the respective main city. Depending on the availability of EU Business Centres in the covered region, the ASEAN and/or MERCOSUR IPR SME Helpdesk should co-operate with or physically move to that Centre if it is dedicated to SMEs.
• Developing and providing state-of-the-art materials for legal background support for EU SMEs. (Materials provided under this call should also be made available to the Enterprise Europe Network, the China IPR SME Helpdesk12, the domestic European IPR Helpdesk13, SME industrial associations, and other European organisations concerned with SMEs and IPR protection in the covered regions for their distribution and use.) Consideration may be given to translation or exchange of existing materials from the China IPR SME Helpdesk, the European IPR Helpdesk, Member State Chambers of Commerce or other relevant sources, where such material is current, appropriate, and such a form of collaboration is acceptable to the authors and publishers of the materials. The materials developed by the China IPR SME Helpdesk and the European IPR Helpdesk are fully available for re-use by the ASEAN and MERCOSUR IPR SME Helpdesk, provided the authorship is acknowledged.
• Providing trainers and state-of-the-art training materials on ASEAN and/or MERCOSUR IPR enforcement and closely related subjects (such as ‘know before you go’ business guidance, etc.) for SME clinics and  workshops in the EU and around the covered region(s) and planning, preparing, promoting and presenting such clinics and workshops in these regions and in the EU.
• Creating a network between client firms of the Helpdesk, industry associations, and other relevant existing organisations in the ASEAN and/or MERCOSUR region to inform SMEs on the latest IPR developments and available support for enforcement.
• Providing a multi-lingual web portal for IPR protection in ASEAN and/or MERCOSUR region(s),focusing on how to protect IPR in typical business situations. This portal should also provide relevant links to other relevant sources of information, such as Member State Chambers of Commerce, the appropriate technical assistance programmes, and official sites of the EU, Member State, local/relevant administration and industry associations. As a minimum, the webportal should be made available in English and additionally in large parts in French, German, Spanish and Portuguese. Potential beneficiaries can propose additional EU languages.
• Monitor selected IPR cases and follow IP policy affecting SMEs in ASEAN and/or MERCOSUR region(s) in order to provide the European Commission, SMEs and other European organisations with relevant information to support business and policy decisions.
• Presence at trade fairs or ‘partenariat’ events or other relevant services to SMEs to provide ‘first-line’ advice and assistance on IPR matters.
• Providing basic support for initial contacts with local law enforcement agencies in the ASEAN and/or MERCOSUR region(s), such as complaint hotlines on IPR infringements or complaint forms for various agencies or administrations related to IPR enforcement.

The Community provisional funding available for the call for proposals is:

• 1,80 Million EUR (Global Budget)

• 07 August 2012 - 12 years ago (Deadline for the presentation of proposals)

• Official page of the Call

• Call fiche 45-G-ENT-CIP-12-BNN05C05 (Guidelines for applicants)

Opened to the following bodies or institutes with legal status established in the covered areas:

• Any legal organisation

Bodies or institutes must have their registered legal seat in one of the countries taking part in the Programme which are:

• European Union (EU)
• Candidate Countries
• European Economic Area (EEA)
• Third countries

Directorate-General for Enterprise and Industry

• China IPR SME Helpdesk
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