在科技發展迅速而根本的影響產業競爭下，藉由專利資訊與專利的管理、運用來增強企業研發競爭力與策略性發展，已不只是大企業開心的議題，中小企業也日漸重視專利管理，但針對中小企業來探討專利實務的相關問題之研究卻不多，本文即以個案研究方式，選擇重視研發創新並以知識工作者為主的IC設計業，進行中小型科技公司的專利管理現況實務之研究。本研究從專利策略(patent strategy)、專利管理制度(patent management system)、以及專利相關之組織與人力資源(patent HRM)三大構面分析中小企業現專利管理行為的特徵，並深入探討潛在的困難與需求。研究結果顯示中小企業對專利的資訊與申請運用等具有高度重視與評價，專利策略上並不一味採保守防禦立場，而會參雜積極型的利基策略，但在實際作方面卻嚴重缺乏適當的認知、技能與可投入的相關資源。因此中小企業在面對專利相關問題時，對價廉物美的專利分析工具以及客製化的專業諮詢顧問等外部支援存在高度的需求。本研究最後歸納出對中小企業漸進式發展專利管理體系的階段性建議，並強調藉由聯盟合作以彌補自身資源不足之缺陷；對政府方面，本研究提出應重視專利服務相關產業之整體健全發展的政策，對專利事務所則提出應重視中小企業潛在龐大市場並給予適當產品與服務區隔之建議。

As innovation becomes the core competence in the violent changing world, possession of patents has been the critical one of enterprises' successful factors. Especially in Taiwan, industries now have stridden from OEM to facing the challenge of technology innovation. It's imperative for Taiwan's industries to recognize the importance of patent and to promote patent application, circulation and commercialization. Although patent management get more emphasis both in business and academy, most concerns are based on the context of large-scale enterprises or multinationals. Actually, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are the majority in Taiwan. Relative to SMEs' importance in the whole economy and their different characteristics, patent management of SMEs is somewhat neglected and needs more studies. This research explores the practice of SMEs' patent management by case study of SMEs in Taiwan's IC design industry. We choose this industry because the fables IC company is a typical model in terms of 'knowledge economy' since it sells the design of electronic components by 'brainpower'. IC design houses really profit from their intellectual assets. Via thorough study from field survey, in-depth manager interviews, documents review, analysis or operation flow and patent information system, we present the specific behavior and phenomenon of SMEs' patent management. The results reveal the problems SMEs facing and thee difficulties when they try to establish patent management system. This article also analyzes the fundamental needs of SMEs for promoting patent management and suggests the corresponding policy assistance to help solving the difficulties.