History teaches us that it is small companies that produce the majority of radical technical innovations. Their size is their strength, as it enables them to respond to demands and offer solutions in a fraction of the time and expense of their corporate counterparts.
"I am delighted to be the patron of the SME Innovation Alliance, the voice for these companies". Prof Stephen Hawking
If you are a UK SME working in technology development, you can become a member. Membership is FREE allowing your SME to become part of our national voice and benefit from exclusive member offers, whereas paid membership gives you free access to all SMEIA meetings, members and to stand for committee.
Welcome
We are a not for profit organisation that champions the interests of small and medium sized high technology businesses, working across sectors from Mechanical Engineering to Bio-tech and Pharma, concentrating on the matters of common interest that arise from being at the bleeding edge of technology development.
Last meeting - Feb 10th 2012
The UK Government seems to be pursuing innovation policies that cannot produce any serious growth. This SMEIA meeting brought out several issues e.g. a failure to address patent "protection" for SMEs, University spin-outs are not the best source of innovation and unlike the UK, the US Government funds radical innovation directly. Read our meeting notes here
Latest news
Word of Advice from Internet Patent News Service
03 May 2012 Don't hire strippers as interference experts
Innovation and its Impact on Economic Performance
A 6-page analysis written by SMEIA Committee members for BIS in October 2011
Information Protection: Filling the Gaps Left by Patents
25 April 2012 An important article by Prof. William Kingston contributing to SMEIA's discussions on IP policy
UK is no 14 in global entrepreneurship
24 April 2012 An article in dpa The Engineer's guide to new products and design ideas
Response from Downing Street
03 April 2012 PM reply to our Request for a Ministry for SMEs: "The Government is here to support small businesses by creatsing an environment in which they can grow and prosper " [why don't we?...]
SMEIA in Brussels - at Major EU Conference on IPR
04 April 2012 Confirmation of Attendance and Conference Programme, Brussels, 26 April 2012
Figures reveal 'failing' patent system
02 April 2012 Article in The Telegraph about Member Michael Wilcox burning his patent paper outside Westminster
Ministry for SMEs?
29 Feb 2012 letter to Prime Minster
The Unitary patent
The House of Commons and the House of Lords are quizzing the Minister for Intellectual Property and others on the plans for an EU Unitary patent court. SMEIA suggests they focus on patent enforcement.
'Bridging the valley of death'
8/2/12 SMEIA responds to Science & Technology Commons Select Committee.
Letter concerning "Innovation and Research Strategy for Growth"
SMEIA suggests Government confuses university research with business innovation
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