The current situation has impacted SMEs operating in Latin America (or willing to do so), which may not know how they can still protect the innovative aspects of their business that allow them to commercialize safely and how to enforce their rights in a lockdown scenario.

At the same time, new opportunities arise in crucial sectors and European entrepreneurs that are intending to take advantage of them must know what are the key IP mechanisms they can benefit from.

Technological cooperation between Europe and third countries has intensified over the past years. The European Commission has stimulated cooperation through various initiatives such as the participation in EC founded projects (like the International IP SME Helpdesks or the EU-Japan Techonology Transfer Helpdesk) or the opening of multiple European Enterprises Network offices around the world. 

The current situation has impacted SMEs operating in Latin America (or willing to do so), which may not know how they can still protect the innovative aspects of their business that allow them to commercialize safely and how to enforce their rights in a lockdown scenario.

At the same time, new opportunities arise in crucial sectors and European entrepreneurs that are intending to take advantage of them must know what are the key IP mechanisms they can benefit from.

With the advent of increasingly integrated global-value chains and the continuous drive to innovate, trade fairs have become one of the most important and most efficient instruments for accessing new markets worldwide. Although attending a trade fair or exhibition can reap substantial benefits, SMEs should be aware of the possible risks for their Intellectual Property protected -or protectable- creations, products and services that are implied.

Colombia is a member of the Andean Community and a key EU trade partner.

Besides its well-known reputation as a coffee exporter, Colombia is also the third country with the largest area of arable land for fruit (7.5 million tons per year) and the seventh for vegetables (1.8 million tons per year) in Latin America. But there are many more sectors that represent a good business opportunity for EU SMEs with innovative ideas that provide them a competitive advantage.

EU SMEs interested in knowing more about IP in general and its particularities in China, Latin America and South-East Asia, will have the chance to have a view on the following main questions:

EU SMEs interested in knowing more about IP in general and its particularities in China, Latin America and South-East Asia, will have the chance to have a view on the following main questions:

Patents registered in Europe, being territorial rights, have no legal effect in any of the countries in Latin America. However, through the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) it is possible to seek simultaneous patent protection for an invention in several countries by filing a single “international” patent application instead of filing separate national applications.