Ammon News - The Jordan Enterprise Development Corporation (JEDCO) on Tuesday conducted a virtual awareness session on the EU-funded project “Intellectual Properties Capacities for Smart, Sustainable and Inclusive Growth in the Mediterranean Region” (IPMED).

Thirty-five participants representing local small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) attended the event, according to a JEDCO statement.

The session offered guidance regarding the mechanisms and conditions of benefiting from IPMED, which is being implemented through JEDCO 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 Neighborhood Instrument (ENI CBCMED).

The project seeks to develop SMEs, promote economic and social development and support innovative entrepreneurs’ projects, the statement said.

JEDCO's acting CEO Adi Ghuneim said: "In the increasingly knowledge-driven economy, IP 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."

Ghuneim 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 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.

Contributing to policy development in the field of IPR and innovation is one of the objectives of IPMED, the statement said.

The coordinator of the European Union's Cross-Border Cooperation Programme, Esmat Karadsheh, said that there are 13 countries in the region that the programme targets, including Jordan. The programme seeks to exchange expertise, 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, he added.

The Chairman of the Jordan Computer Association, Mowaffaq Hananda, affirmed that the association is implementing a comprehensive strategy that contributes to the development of the Jordanian information and communication technology sector.

The association organising training courses and workshops and support SMEs by hosting them in the business incubator, which was established in the association’s office, in addition to supporting school students by encouraging them to participate in programming competitions that are organised in cooperation with partners, Hananda said.