Title: Intellectual property management practices at small and medium-sized enterprises

Authors: Elisabeth Eppinger; Gergana Vladova

Addresses: Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, University of Potsdam, August-Bebel-Str. 89, 14482 Potsdam, Germany. ' Chair of Business Information Systems and Electronic Government, University of Potsdam, August-Bebel-Str. 89, 14482 Potsdam, Germany

Abstract: Small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) contribute to innovation and economic growth, despite their resource shortages and lack of professional intellectual property (IP) management practices. Drawing on social practice theory and combining insights from recent scholarship on IP strategies and its management, this paper examines the cases of three pharmaceutical SME providing insights into how they appropriate returns on research and development (R&D) investments. It discusses their IP strategies and management practices, examining how the IP management practices are embedded in the firm's organisational structure. Moreover, this paper develops recommendations for SME regarding the professionalisation of their IP management practices.

Keywords: intellectual property management; intellectual property rights; IPR; IP strategy; patents; pharmaceutical industry; social practice theory; small and medium-sized enterprises; pharmaceutical SMEs; research and development; R&D investment; organisational structure; professionalisation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTM.2013.050244

International Journal of Technology Management, 2013 Vol.61 No.1, pp.64 - 81

Published online: 06 Apr 2013 *

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