Intellectual Property (IP) Rights Vital for European Startup and Scale-up Success, New EUIPO and EPO Study Finds

As part of the collaboration agreement between The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and Invest Europe to promote and encourage activities and services that support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), we're delighted to share the latest joint study between EUIPO and the European Patent Office (EPO) that highlights the significant role of intellectual property (IP) rights in the success of European startups and scale-ups.

Highlights

• startups applying for trademarks and patents before their initial seed or early growth stages are up to 10.2 times more likely to secure funding.

• the biotechnology sector leads in IP usage, with 65% utilizing patents or registered trademarks, followed by science and engineering, healthcare, and manufacturing.

• Finland and France exhibit the highest IP rights utilization among European countries, with intangible assets like patents and trademarks playing a crucial role in securing early-stage financing, particularly for deep tech startups.

As companies grow, their IP usage intensifies, making these rights essential for securing funding and collaborations. Find out more and download study here.