A key force that propels the economy forward is the exponential growth achieved by some small and new businesses. However, identifying small to medium enterprises (SMEs) with high growth potential is a key challenge for policymakers and investors alike.
Our latest research is an essential tool for policymakers and investors, as it breaks down the relationship between SMEs’ IP activity and the potential to achieve high growth in employment and turnover.
The tech sector created 65,000 new jobs during COVID-19, with SMEs accounting for 98% of businesses in the sector. While only a small (but growing) proportion of SMEs uses IP rights, the research highlighted in the Intellectual Property Rights and Enterprise Growth report reveals that IP rights are a significant factor in the growth of SMEs.
For Australian SMEs, IP rights provide an important set of tools for gaining a competitive advantage in a market. They are instrumental for attracting finance, licensing and selling intellectual assets, and earning a return on intangible investment.
The study used data on the full population of Australian businesses, tracking over 600,000 SMEs over the period 2002–2017. It shows that SMEs that have filed for IP rights are more likely to experience high sustained growth, especially if they have filed for trademarks.
Key findings
These results highlight the role of IP rights for SMEs in attracting financing, securing a market position, and capturing value from investment in intangible assets. The results also highlight the importance of small businesses identifying the intangible assets they own and the different protections they need to find a competitive edge.
A snapshot of the findings is now available to download, as is the full economic research report.
A key force that propels the economy forward is the exponential growth achieved by some small and new businesses. However, identifying small to medium enterprises (SMEs) with high growth potential is a key challenge for policymakers and investors alike.
A key force that propels the economy forward is the exponential growth achieved by some small and new businesses. However, identifying small to medium enterprises (SMEs) with high growth potential is a key challenge for policymakers and investors alike.
A key force that propels the economy forward is the exponential growth achieved by some small and new businesses. However, identifying small to medium enterprises (SMEs) with high growth potential is a key challenge for policymakers and investors alike.