Helping bring ideas to the market

A new agreement between the EUIPO and the European Commission to support the market uptake of research results on Intellectual Property is another example of how the EU innovation eco-system is becoming more joined up in response to the economic challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Office has just signed a letter of intent for co-operation on Intellectual Property management with the European Commission Directorate General Research and Innovation,?the European Innovation Council and the SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA).

The Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, Mariya Gabriel, has welcomed the commitment to closer collaboration on actions related to IP management, since it further supports the European Research Area objective of translating research?results into the economy, ensuring market uptake of research output and Europe’s competitive leadership in technology.

This latest agreement will increase coordination on awareness-raising activities on IP and support measures for SMEs to boost their innovation potential and improve the understanding of the benefits that IP can provide. It will result in increased sharing of IP related data,?cooperation in IP management policy development, and knowledge transfer activities, including the development of a Code of Practice for smart use of IP (expected by the end of 2022).

The agreement will result in increased sharing of IP related data,?cooperation in IP management policy development, and knowledge transfer activities, including the development of a Code of Practice for smart use of IP

The development of closer links with the EU Directorate Generals and agencies has been an ongoing process for the EUIPO for some years and is becoming increasingly important as intangible assets, registered IP rights, and innovation generally play a growing role in the economic prospects of small and large companies.

This agreement follows the success of the Ideas Powered for Business SME Fund, set up during 2021 as a rapid response to Covid-19, in order to help EU SMEs get IP advice and obtain what in many cases has been their first registered rights. Around 13,000 EU SMEs have been helped already.

Now, working with the European Commission and the Member State IPOs who deliver help on the ground, the EUIPO is planning an even more ambitious three-year SME Fund, which will be presented for approval by our governing bodies later this month.