The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has welcomed the launch of a government pilot scheme which could help small businesses protect their intellectual property rights (IPR).

Announced by the Department of Trade & Industry (DTI), the new pilot scheme will enable a number of small businesses to obtain guidance from the UK's network of regional development agencies.

The new scheme will to be made available to around 40 small businesses.

"This pilot could go a long way towards bridging the gap that small businesses face when they have invented a new product," said Mike Cherry, financial affairs chairman at the FSB.

"At present it is very costly and bureaucratic to protect that invention," he added.

The cost of a solicitor specialising in IPR can be up to £300 per hour, according to the FSB.

The DTI is a government department with its origins in the merger of the board of trade and the ministry of technology in 1970, which led to the creation of the secretary of state for trade and industry.