IP & SMEs in Europe: Taking your ideas to Market

4 & 5 May 2021, 3 PM – 4:30 PM CEST

Europe’s economy relies heavily on small & medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which make up 99% of all businesses in the EU region. As these SMEs invest their time, money, and resources in creating products or services to cater to the needs of their customers, it is only natural for these businesses to seek ways to not only protect their creations but also create value from them.

Although SMEs can use numerous IP rights to safeguard and derive value from their assets, most of them are unaware of these assets and the value they hold. Data from the EUIPO shows that in 2019, 38% of the European SMEs did not register their IP rights due to lack of awareness about IP and its importance. The data also suggests that while 25% of medium-sized IPR holders valued their intangible assets professionally, only 20% of small and micro-sized IPR holders did the same. Among SMEs that registered their IP rights during 2019, 54% witnessed a positive impact, including a substantial increase in turnover (39%), enhanced reputation (52%), and ability to enter new markets (37%).

If you are an SME based in Europe and are trying to either learn how IP can help or looking for ways to improve your existing IP function, then Join us in our hourplus event over two days – “IP & European SMEs: Taking your ideas to Market” which is scheduled for 4th and 5th May, 3 PM to 4:30 PM CEST, where we will discuss everything related to IP, from explaining the basic IP concepts to ways of protecting your innovation within and outside Europe.

The event is being organized on the sidelines of the World IP Day 2021 on the theme outlined by the World Intellectual Property Office.