Nayrouz News Agency : The Jordan Enterprise Development Corporation (JEDCO) on Tuesday conducted its first awareness session virtually about the EU-funded project "Intellectual Properties Capacities for Smart, Sustainable and Inclusive Growth in the Mediterranean Region” (IPMED), with participation of more than 90 participants representing local small- and medium- sized enterprises (SMEs) and entrepreneurs.

The session's main objectives are to raise awareness and offer guidance regarding the mechanisms and conditions of benefitting from IPMED, according to a JEDCO statement.

The project is being implemented through JEDCO as a leader in partnership with Greece, Italy, Spain and Tunisia through a total of 1.194 million euros funded by the Cross-Border Cooperation Programme for the Mediterranean Basin within the European Neighbourhood Instrument (ENI CBCMED) to develop SMEs, promote economic and social development and support innovative entrepreneurs’ projects.

JEDCO CEO Bashar Al Zou’bi said: "In the increasingly knowledge driven economy, IP [intellectual property] is a key consideration in day-to-day business decisions. New products, brands and creative designs appear almost daily on the market and are the result of continuous human innovation and creativity, SMEs are often the driving force behind such innovations."

The CEO also stressed the importance of organising and implementing tailor-made seminars and e-learning facilities with a twofold purpose: Enhancing the capacities of public authorities and stakeholders in relation to essential intellectual property rights (IPR) issues for improved policies and practice; and enhancing the capacities of public authorities and innovation brokers of all target regions for the provision of innovative services.

In addition to conducting a capacity-building phase, the project will provide services for start-ups and young and women entrepreneurs. This will allow for testing project results and provide room for potential improvement, the statement said.

Contributing to policy development in the field of IPR and innovation is one of the objectives of IPMED. Intellectual property is a field where, despite intense international efforts for harmonisation, significant differences exist both in law and in practice from one country or organisation to the next. It is expected that the project activities will contribute to improving frameworks and practices in all target regions and countries, read the statement.

Zou'bi emphasised the importance of the developmental role undertaken by small, micro and medium enterprises and projects within the national economy, whether by contributing to GDP, by strengthening exports or by providing job opportunities.  

He added that all available capabilities will be dedicated to render entrepreneurships a success and to put them on the economic competition map, locally and internationally.

The coordinator of the European Union's Cross-Border Cooperation Programme, Esmat Karadsheh, said that there are 14 countries in the region that the programme targets, including Jordan, in order to exchange experiences, knowledge and joint work for the sustainability of development, sustainability of activities, environmental sustainability and joint cooperation for the development and common economy of the countries of the Mediterranean basin and building an effective partnership.

Speakers from the project's strategic partners participated in the workshop, a representative from the Intellectual Property Directorate at the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Supply gave a presentation on the services provided, and a representative of Luminus ShamalStart, an incubator for innovative projects in Irbid and the northern region, gave a brief about the projects it supports.

As for the private sector represented by intellectual property consulting firms, the representative of the "Baianat" company presented briefly the services provided by the company in terms of legal and technical advice within this framework, according to the statement.