I rise in this Honourable House today to report a new initiative of the Department of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development that is focused on supporting the growth of the province�s small and medium-sized enterprises.

Intellectual property protection is an important aspect of innovation and the commercialization of new products and technologies. For this reason, the department has introduced an information session, Protecting Your Product and Technology. This session is aimed at helping small and medium-sized enterprises enhance their understanding of the benefits of effective intellectual property protection.

In addition to protecting such assets as a company�s brand or patented products, intellectual property holds tremendous value and can be leveraged to produce considerable revenues. For example, IBM generates approximately $1 billion from its patents while Microsoft�s intellectual property including the trademark of its brand, copyright of its software and patent portfolio is valued at more than $260 billion.

Newfoundland and Labrador�s business community is becoming increasingly progressive and innovative. Leading this charge is small business. Not from one specific sector but from a variety of industries such as ocean technology, agriculture, life sciences, tourism, mining, and information and communications technologies.

It is central to their continued growth to understand how they can best protect their products and technologies.

Through sessions at Corner Brook�s Glynmill Inn on March 30 and at the Holiday Inn on March 31 in St. John�s, participants will have access to specialized professionals who can guide them through the process of protecting their product or concept. Sessions will cover topics such as the various types of intellectual property protection that range from trademarks, patents, trade secrets, and copyrights, along with the rights of businesses with or without intellectual property protection, the importance of branding, and government support tools.

These half-day sessions are free of charge and open to all businesses.

As a government, we are committed to providing our small to medium-sized enterprises with access to the tools and resources they require to capitalize on business opportunities and strengthen their competitiveness.

There is no substitute for knowledge and by increasing their knowledge and understanding of intellectual property businesses and educational institutions are taking important steps to grow and protect their business operations. I encourage businesses to contact the Department of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development for more information. In Corner Brook, call 637-2628 and in St. John�s call 729-4208.