What we do: Software
Valuing Intellectual Assets in Software Companies
The IA Centre is delighted to be partnering for the first time with both ScotlandIS, the trade body for software, communications and IT in Scotland, and intangible assets specialists Metis Partners, to launch an exciting programme aimed at software companies located in the West of Scotland.
This new programme is designed to raise awareness among participants of the importance of intellectual assets and the role these assets can play in supporting business development and innovation. It will offer participants an opportunity to focus on critical business areas such as:
- Product development
- Creation of new revenue streams
- Fundraising
- Accelerating time to market for new products
Masterclasses
The next Masterclass is to take place on 26th June also at 29 with the speakers: Mike Hughes of Graham Technologies. Mikes subject will be 'From bedroom to Boardroom' a discussion of the challenges of the first five years of a software business.
May’s Masterclass featured Donald Maciver, Managing Director of Gael Ltd (www.gaelquality.com) which designs, develops and delivers compliance management solutions, and Gerard Hampsey (who stepped in at the last minute for George Knox, Chief Executive) of website and document migration specialists Vamosa Ltd (www.vamosa.com). The topic was ‘Growing sales through partnerships – the pluses and the pitfalls’ and the discussion was chaired by Benny Placido of project partner 2in10. Afterwards attendees will be able to have a relaxed drink and chat with other participants and speakers. A number of companies who attended the first event in April have already made useful contacts with other members of the Project VIA group and the attending industry influencers, hopefully planting the seeds of new opportunities and business ventures.
Participants can login to the project page for links and notes on past Master classes
Some of the benefits of managing your intellectual assets...
“The Intellectual Asset approach helped us to reassess the business's strategic priorities and pushed the management team to give honest answers to more probing questions about how the company was operating. It ultimately gave us a much greater appreciation of the hidden assets within the business.”
David Carrick, Chief Executive, Memex Technology
“Linking together ideas under the heading of intellectual assets is useful. When we look at different elements of the business as a management team we usually do so in isolation. It’s good to pull issues together and look at their impact on the business.”
Margaret Lang, Chief Executive, Intelligent Office UK
More details about the programme
This programme is delivered by industry experts and will help companies recognise how market intelligence can inform the product development process and strategic decision-making. It will provide an opportunity for networking, knowledge sharing and collaboration with other Scottish software companies. Specially selected industry champions and influencers will also offer participants an insight into their own business challenges and successes.
It will run over a six-month period from April/May to October 2007, with opportunities for one-to-one management support and peer group interaction. A key programme outcome will be the creation by participants of an Action Plan which will lay the foundations for a new approach to the measurement, management and development of intellectual assets in their business. The programme will involve the utilisation of a number of online tools developed by the IA Centre and aim to support the development of a new web-based intellectual assets management tool which could be utilised by software companies across Scotland.
It is anticipated that the management team of participating companies will be expected to commit approximately a week of their time over the entire duration of the programme. A registration fee of £500 + VAT will be charged to each participating company.
The event was launched with a successful Masterclass on 24th April in ABode in Glasgow where Mark Gibson of Memex and David Craig of McLaren Software shared their insights on the topic Selling software products or selling solutions - which is best? However, there are still a couple of spaces remaining, so if you are interested in participating and want to find out more information about the programme, please complete our Contact Us Form, email your contact details to the IA Centre at info@ia-centre.org.uk or simply call Metis Partners on 0141 353 3011.
To check eligibility for this programme, part funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), please visit the website of ERDF fund managers, Strathclyde European Partnership, and insert your company’s postcode in the relevant Objective 2 Postcode Look-up search section: http://www.wsep.co.uk/content/Miscellaneous/searchpostcodes.asp
Some more info is available in the FAQ leaflet, downloadable below...
EVVICA Tool
This is a tool for assessing the profitability of your projects using a Estimated Value Via Intellectual Capital Analysis technique, referred to as EVVICA. By answering a series of multiple choice questions and entering some basic financial projections, this tool will give you an indication of your projects' possible outcome.
'Valuing IA in Software Companies' FAQ leaflet
This leaflet answers some of the frequently asked questions about the project
