MAPP

MARKETING AND PATENT PROGRAM (MAPP) Sandhya

MAPP Program

What is MAPP? Who Qualifies for MAPP Assistance? What Is the Michigan Technology Tri-Corridor (MTTC)? Frequently Asked Questions

What is MAPP? Have you had an idea for a new product and need to talk to a patent attorney about it? Do you want to know more about protecting an idea with patents, trademarks, non-disclosure and licensing agreements? Or, have you been trying to launch a new product or grow an existing one but don't know how to analyze the market, set a reasonable price, or find a way to distribute it in the Global marketplace? These are some of the frequently asked questions that prompted the SmartZone to apply for and receive a state grant that will enable us to offer more comprehensive patenting and marketing assistance.

We have named this new program the Marketing and Patent Assistance Program (MAPP), and its purpose is to subsidize the costs of bringing patent attorneys and marketing services to the U.P. Until now, entrepreneurs and businesses had to travel outside the U.P. to meet with experts in these fields. By paying the travel costs and negotiating reduced rates, MAPP will offer timely, high-quality and cost-effective assistance to entrepreneurs, startups and established businesses. In certain cases, MAPP will also pay for some of the costs of assisting an entrepreneur or company. The SmartZone's objective is to help grow the high-tech job base here in the U.P. by making it easier to start and grow a business.

MAPP's patent assistance program After interviewing and visiting a number of different patent attorney firms in Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota, the SmartZone selected the Southfield, MI firm of Brooks Kushman, P.C. (BK). BK is a law firm with over 40 patent attorneys and agents trained in a broad range of scientific disciplines and experienced in working with entrepreneurs and small companies in the areas of patent prosecution, trademark and copyright services, developing and negotiating licensing agreements, surveying existing patent landscapes, providing opinions, designing around existing patents and litigation. MAPP will bring BK attorneys to the U.P. on a quarterly basis and provide them with a local office. MAPP will also schedule workshops that BK will offer covering such topics as patents, trademarks, international patent protection, licensing strategies, updates on patent law, and other subjects of interest to local entrepreneurs and businessmen. Anyone may take advantage of BK's services and make an appointment to meet with them or attend their workshops. However, if you are developing products or services in Michigan 's Tri-Corridor (Homeland Security, Advanced Automotive Design, or the Life Sciences) and fit the SmartZone criteria (i.e., are “high-tech” developing or growing a company that will generate local jobs), MAPP may also subsidize a part of the costs of working with BK. As there are no full-service patent firms in the U.P., this is a wonderful opportunity for anyone looking for assistance with intellectual property issues.

MAPP's marketing assistance: Under MAPP, Boomerang Marketing, with an office in the Powerhouse in Houghton, will offer marketing help. What kind of marketing assistance can MAPP offer? First, market assessments – who is your customer, why will they want your product or service, how much will they pay for it, how do you reach them, who are your competitors, how big is the market, how do you sell outside the U.P. and outside the country? Second, strategic planning – how do you create a more professional image, establish a promotional campaign, prepare a new product launch, develop sales tools, organize a communications strategy? Many businesses and entrepreneurs in the U.P. have developed cutting-edge products and services but lack the experience and expertise to effectively market those products. As with MAPP's patent assistance, if you are working within the Tri-Corridor and qualify for SmartZone assistance, MAPP may pay a portion of the marketing costs. In this case, MAPP may also find and pay a portion of the costs of hiring additional marketing experts in a particular field, such as telecommunications or medical devices. In this way, your company will be more prepared to compete on a global scale.

What Is the Michigan Technology Tri-Corridor (MTTC)? The Tri-Corridor refers to Michigan's efforts to support companies developing products or services in the three areas of Advanced Automotive, Homeland Security and Life Sciences.

Advanced Automotive Technologies Michigan is the intellectual capital and global R&D automotive center, spending $10.3 billion annually and employing over 60,000 professionals statewide. This industry in Michigan focuses on engineered products, processes and technologies with applications in the automotive industry that:

Improve safety, vehicle performance, product quality and durability Promote advanced power train and alternative energy technologies and environmentally conscious solutions Reduce costs Homeland Security Technologies Since the devastating attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, the phrase “homeland security” has become very familiar to the general public. The first actions taken were very much a response to this act: the upgrading of border and airport security, the passage of new laws designed to thwart similar attacks and governmental re-organization. Right now, the United States finds itself at the next stage in the evolution of homeland security in which the private sector has a large part to play. Approximately $33 billion of federal funding in FY 2005 with a heavy emphasis on developing new technology is being made available to assist the four main parts of effective preparedness to threats to the nation (with examples):

Frequently Asked Questions What is the purpose of the Marketing and Patent Program? The program is primarily intended for entrepreneurs and small businesses that will be able to start or expand their businesses through partially subsidized marketing and patent services. Until now, businesses often traveled out of the U.P. to meet with experts in these fields. With this program, marketing and patent experts are available in a Houghton office for timely, high quality and cost-effective assistance. In the end, the goal of the program is to help companies with high growth potential increase local employment opportunities and stronger communities.

What are the requirements to receive subsidized services? Participants must meet SmartZone requirements and be working on a product or service within the Tri-Corridor definitions and show a high commitment to success and other factors. Subsidized services will not be granted to companies that are purely technology users, consulting companies or entrepreneurs without a robust business plan. Review the " Who Qualifies for MAPP Assistance? " section above as well as the applications under " How Do I Apply? ".

What costs are subsidized? The program finances limited services of expert patent lawyers from the Southfield firm of Brooks Kushman P.C. and Boomerang Marketing. Subsidized costs include the companies' periodic travel to Houghton, initiating patent filings, purchasing professional marketing research and developing a direct marketing program. Participants will be required to pay for all services that do not qualify for or exceed the available subsidy. The program will not pay for costs such as printing, advertising or any work that is not critical to the business' future growth.

What are the obligations of the business receiving a subsidy? The business must initially provide a plan that emphasizes growth objectives related to the assistance that it will receive. Following the assistance, it will be required to submit periodic reports to show the material effect that the assistance produced. A business that receives a patent is requested to reimburse the SmartZone up to the value of the subsidy used to procure the patent within the first few years of its successful commercialization or licensing.

Can established businesses utilize available service providers? Yes. Established businesses (those with recurring revenue and/or profit) are encouraged to utilize the available service providers even though they may not qualify for a program subsidy. Brooks Kushman and Boomerang Marketing provide local offices at the SmartZone for the convenience of all local businesses, thereby reducing the cost and improving the level of service to all clients in the area. Seminars offered within the program are open to all interested businesses.

Who is providing the expert services? Following an arduous selection process, the SmartZone chose Boomerang Marketing, a local full-service marketing company, for initial marketing services and Brooks Kushman, a full-service Intellectual Property Law firm from Southfield , Michigan , for patent services. Each company will provide reduced-rate services within the program and operate offices in Houghton , Michigan . As necessary, the program may also engage services from additional marketing experts.

Will my proprietary business information be kept confidential? Any business information that you provide in confidence will be kept confidential. If you receive patent assistance, you will enter attorney-client privilege with the patent attorney. Information including your business name, a description of your business and similar general information may be publicized in the program's marketing campaign. Additionally, you will be required to periodically report certain performance metrics in aggregate to measure the success of the program, none of which will be of a confidential nature.

Resource: http://www.mtecsmart.com/programs.html