From IP Awareness to Strategic Valorization: bolstering IP capabilities of Italian SMEs through policy interventions

Intellectual Property (IP) management represents a crucial yet often underutilized strategic area for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). Effective management of IP can foster innovation, bolster competitive advantage, and enhance financial sustainability. Nonetheless, SMEs, including Italian firms, frequently fail to fully leverage formal IP protections, thereby hindering their ability to derive value from their innovations. This study, in collaboration with the Italian Patent and Trademark Office (UIBM), investigates the obstacles and facilitators of IP management within Italian SMEs. deficiencies in awareness, protection, management, and valorization of IP. Despite 58.4% of respondents rating their familiarity with IP as ‘good’ or ‘excellent,’ 77% lack a dedicated IP function, and dependence on external expertise remains widespread. Only 38.7% consistently consider obtaining formal and registered IP rights, with cost and administrative burden being primary barriers. Furthermore, strategic integration of IP is limited, with merely 25% of SMEs evaluating the economic value of their IP assets. As a result, formal commercialization through licensing or transactions are scarcely implemented. Our findings underscore the necessity for targeted policy interventions aimed at bolstering IP capabilities among SMEs. Recommendations include expanding training programs, facilitating advisory services, and promoting collaborations between SMEs, larger firms, and research institutions. By addressing these structural weaknesses, SMEs can transform IP from a passive asset into a strategic driver of growth, competitiveness, and sustained innovation.