402. Canada is pleased to co-sponsor today's agenda item on IP and Innovation, Inclusive Innovation and MSME trade. Canada would also like to thank Switzerland for drafting the guiding communication for today's discussion as well as the co-sponsors and other Members that have shared national experiences and insights on this issue so far. We would also note yesterday's Friends of IP and Innovation SMEs–event. We found the interventions by all participants to be instructive and pertinent, but found the opportunity to hear the MSME-perspective directly to be particularly useful.
403. In examining the relationship between small and medium-sized enterprise IP ownership and trade, a 2014 survey on financing and growth of SMEs conducted by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada, found that SMEs that hold IP were four times more likely to export than those that did not. As well, according to the Canadian Intellectual Property Office, or CIPO, 2016 IP Canada report, Canadian IP activity has notably grown in recent years with overall global IP rights applications by Canadians growing by 35% from 2005 to 2014.
404. With respect to patents, growth and applications abroad has been rapid, with 34% more patents filed abroad in 2014 than in 2005. More than half of this growth has come from the use of the WIPO patent co-operation treaty by Canadian filers. Particularly, as Canadians continue to diversify their export markets by filing in multiple jurisdictions.
405. Similarly, trademark applications are another key factor in the growing use of IP rights by Canadian firms internationally, as our applications for industrial design protection in global markets. At the same time however, SMEs often have a low awareness of IP and overlook the value of IP protection when seeking to expand into new markets and to access global business opportunities. Underutilized IP can translate into potential lost business opportunities while fully leveraged IP rights can open the door to new business partnerships, for instance through the sale or licensing of IP, creating opportunities for growth, access to foreign markets and new investment.
406. In this sense, building IP literacy is important to ensuring that SMEs have a sound understanding of IP rights when entering foreign markets and can better utilize and leverage their IP assets as part of their business and growth strategies. In Canada, CIPO has launched an IP awareness and education programme to deliver tailored and responsive products, services and training to innovators and SMEs. CIPO's IP awareness and education programme offerings include guides, one-pagers and process maps. In addition to seminars and training sessions, they provide business with the tools and information they need to better acquire, manage and leverage their IP assets. Seminars and training services for businesses, partners and intermediaries, including those for particular markets and sectors, and a suite of network services including referral consultation and support to advisory services is currently in the development stage.
407. CIPO also maintains a dedicated webpage for Canadian businesses seeking to learn more about managing IP as they prepare to grow their business in Canada and internationally. This page includes advice on learning the basics of IP rules in countries in which exporters are seeking to do business, taking stock of IP assets, for instance by building an inventory of IP assets in business plans and developing an IP strategy linked to a firm's export business plan. CIPO's guide also includes advice on searching international IP databases in export markets, formal registration and protection of IP rights, and information on preventing and remedying IP infringement in foreign markets.
408. In addition, the government of Canada is building upon CIPO's initiatives to further increase the use of IP by businesses to support their growth and competitiveness. The government of Canada also offers a range of programmes and services as well as financial support aimed at supporting MSME expansion into export markets. For instance, Canada's Going Global Innovation or GGI programme administered by Global Affairs Canada's Trade Commissioner Service, supports researchers who aim to commercialize technology by pursuing collaborative, international research and development opportunities through partnerships with key players in foreign markets. GGI provides assistance to eligible beneficiaries such as Canadian SME and innovators by contributing up to 75% of eligible expenses for prude projects related to international collaboration. GGI provides eligible applicants with up to CAN$75,000, with funding to cover eligible costs required to seek international partnerships in foreign markets.
409. More recently, in January 2016, Canada announced the launch of the CanExport, a five-year programme which will provide CAN$50 million in direct financial assistance to SMEs that are registered in Canada and that are seeking to develop new export-opportunities, especially in high-growth emerging markets. Delivered by Global Affairs Canada's Trade Commissioner Service in partnership with the National Research Council Industrial Research Assistance programme, CanExport provides financial support for a wide range of export marketing activities. Among the eligible expenses covered by CanExport funding, applicants may use financial assistance in respect of IP protection and certification expenses in foreign markets as well as certification fees necessary for market access and adaptation and translation of contractual agreements for target markets.
410. These are just some of the services and programmes offered to MSMEs in Canada and it is supporting their growth and expansion into foreign markets. Canada would be pleased to provide additional information on any of these services and programmes to other Members upon request. We would once again like to thank other Members for sharing their national experiences and for the productive exchange of ideas on this issue with the view to discussing how IP frameworks can be used to support MSME trade in this regard.
