This October, INSME held its 21st Annual Meeting, “Protecting and Valuing SME Intangible Assets,” in Alicante, Spain. The conference was co-organized with the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and supported by Alibaba.
The discussion highlighted that intangible assets are increasingly recognized as vital drivers of SME competitiveness and business value, as Andrea Di Carlo (EUIPO) emphasized in his opening remarks. However, participants agreed that many SMEs still face major challenges in protecting, valuing, and leveraging their intangible assets. Lucia Cusmano (OECD) underscored how complex and costly IP systems can discourage smaller businesses from formal protection, leaving them exposed to infringement risks, especially in global digital markets. A further barrier consists of the difficulty of accurately assessing the economic value of intangible assets, as standardized valuation frameworks are still underdeveloped. Arianna Iseppi (Alibaba) emphasized that digitalization and online platforms can concretely help SMEs to unlock and scale the value of their intangible assets internationally.
Experts from the private and public sectors, as well as academia, gathered to address these and other challenges, and to discuss emerging opportunities for SMEs in the evolving economic landscape. In fact, as highlighted by the opening panel, IP leverage is not only a protection mechanism but a key competitive advantage driving differentiation, consumer trust, and economic resilience. The second panel reflected on financial strategies for IP valuation and monetization, and on how financial institutions can support IP-rich SMEs. The third panel was dedicated to public support and specific tools to help SMEs overcome financial and knowledge barriers in managing IP and encourage them to maximize the use of their intangible assets. A final panel explored the fascinating and complex theme of AI and knowledge creation.
The success of the conference was further enhanced by a new format: hot working groups. Participants were organized into small groups to discuss specific topics related to the Annual Meeting’s theme. This format allowed experts from different backgrounds to exchange ideas and best practices. The working groups enriched the conversation on SMEs and intangible assets, demonstrating that collaboration fosters both innovation and success.
On the occasion of the Annual Meeting, INSME’s General Assembly met to approve the budget and to present current and future projects. Most importantly, the Assembly elected the new governance for 2025-2027. Furthermore, our Member Enterprise Greece announced that INSME’s next Annual Meeting will be held in Athens, Greece, under their auspices.
As intangible assets continue to shape the future of competitiveness, the insights shared in Alicante might guide innovators, policymakers, and entrepreneurs in building a stronger IP ecosystem. INSME will continue to champion initiatives that help SMEs unlock their full potential.
Source: INSME Secretariat, EUIPO
