Intellectual property (IP) is not just a legal tool to protect intangibles: it is a structural economic engine for Europe. The latest joint report from the European Union Intellectual Property Office and the European Patent Office confirms that intellectual property rights-intensive sectors concentrate a large part of the continent's wealth creation, skilled employment, exports and technological investment. The study analyzes the period 2021–2023 and identifies 361 intellectual property rights intensive industries, responsible for almost 48% of EU GDP, more than 30% of employment and close to 80% of European foreign trade. In addition to attracting more than 88% of private equity and venture capital investments in the EU aimed at startups that make intensive use of IP. This data not only provides macroeconomic evidence. They also offer a strategic conclusion for companies: protecting innovation translates directly into competitiveness, funding, and growth. Next, we analyze the main conclusions of the report and their practical implications for technology, industrial, and creative companies. What are intellectual property-intensive industries? Industries that register a higher than average number of patents, trademarks, designs, or other rights per employee, compared to other industries that use intellectual property rights, are considered to be IP-intensive. Simply put: An industry is identified as intellectual property rights intensive in the EU if, for at least one of the intellectual property rights considered, the number of those rights per employee exceeds the average of all EU industries that use that same intellectual property right. These industries range from pharmaceuticals and electronics to software, fashion, food with geographical indications, and creative services. The report's premise is clear: when IP is used systematically, its economic impact multiplies. Key figures that explain the economic weight of IP The study offers compelling indicators regarding industries with intensive use of IP: They generated 30,6% of total EU employment (more than 65 million workers). 47,9% of European GDP was generated by these industries (7,7 trillion euros). 76,4% of imports and 78,3% of exports, generating a trade surplus of 108 billion euros, which helps to keep the EU's overall foreign trade balanced. Wage premium of 40,9%, significantly higher than other non-IP intensive sectors. 88% of venture capital and private equity investment went to startups operating in IP-intensive sectors. These figures demonstrate a direct correlation between the protection of intangible assets and value creation. These are not marginal sectors or technological niches, but the backbone of the European economy. Patents, trademarks, designs and copyright: how each right contributes. The economic contribution varies depending on the type of right used. The report breaks down different sector profiles. In addition to companies specializing in the leasing of intellectual property, some examples are detailed below, broken down by type of industrial property right. Patent-intensive industries: Manufacturing of hand-held power tools. Manufacturing of telecommunications equipment. Manufacturing of household appliances. Research and experimental development in biotechnology. Other experimental research and development in natural sciences and technology. Brand-intensive industries: Manufacture of other transport equipment (ncop, not elsewhere classified), such as handcarts; Production of other non-distilled beverages, derived from fermentation, such as vermouth. Collective investment, funds and similar financial entities Activities of holding companies Extraction of crude oil Research and experimental development in biotechnology. Industries intensive in industrial designs: Manufacture of other transport equipment (ncop), such as handcarts; Wholesale of furniture, carpets and lighting equipment. Manufacturing of electrical lighting equipment. Manufacture of jewelry and similar articles. Activities of intermediaries in the wholesale trade of furniture, household goods and hardware. Copyright-intensive industries: Printing, prepress and media preparation. Reproduction of recorded media. Retail sale of books, newspapers and stationery. Retail sale of music and video recordings. Video game. Industries intensive in Geographical Indications Dairy products Spirits Wine Beer Industries intensive in plant varieties Wholesale trade of flowers and plants. Research and experimental development in biotechnology. Wholesale trade of cereals, raw tobacco, seeds and animal feed. Other research and experimental developments in natural sciences and technology. Intellectual property and quality employment One of the most relevant results of the report is the wage premium. Workers in IP-intensive sectors receive, on average, 40,9% more remuneration than those in non-intensive sectors. This data has clear implications: higher professional qualifications, more stable jobs, greater productivity, and more investment in talent. Intellectual property not only generates business wealth, but also higher quality and more specialized employment. Exports and global value chains: IP-intensive sectors are notably more international. According to the report: three out of every four euros exported by the EU come from these sectors, which generate a trade surplus and concentrate greater integration into global value chains. This is explained by the fact that protected innovation facilitates: technological differentiation, barriers to entry, international licenses, and scalability of business models. IP as a signal for investors: venture capital and startups. One of the most innovative chapters of the study analyzes the relationship between IP intensity and business financing. The conclusion is clear: investors interpret intellectual property as a sign of quality and growth potential. More than 88% of European venture capital and private equity investment is directed towards startups in IP-intensive sectors. The reasons are clear: lower risk of copying, greater market exclusivity, transferable or licenseable assets, better valuation...Read more
The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) is launching a new edition of the SME Fund – Ideas Powered for Business in 2026, a support program aimed at small and medium-sized enterprises that want to protect their Industrial Property assets and reduce the costs associated with registering trademarks, patents, designs and plant varieties, as well as strategic analysis through IP Scan services. Following the positive impact of the previous call, the SME Fund is consolidating itself as a key tool for SMEs and startups seeking to strengthen their competitiveness through the protection of their intangible assets. Who can apply for SME Fund 2026 grants? The SME Fund 2026 is aimed at SMEs established in the European Union that meet the European Commission's definition: Fewer than 250 employees, and annual turnover equal to or less than 50 million euros, or annual balance sheet total equal to or less than 43 million euros. Self-employed workers can also benefit from this aid, provided they can prove their economic activity. Foundations, when less than 25% of their capital is held by public entities. What support does the SME Fund 2026 offer? Amounts, percentages and eligible concepts The 2026 call is structured in four vouchers or bonds: Voucher 1 – IP Scan: diagnosis and enforcement in Industrial Property Eligible services: IP Scan (preliminary diagnosis of Industrial Property): strategic analysis of the company's IP assets and recommendations for their protection. IP Scan Enforcement: expert advice in situations of possible infringement of Industrial Property rights. Coverage: Refund percentage: 90% Maximum amount: €1.620 Voucher 2 – Aid for trademarks and designs This voucher allows you to significantly reduce the costs associated with the registration of distinctive signs and industrial designs. Maximum amount: Up to €700 National, regional and European Union coverage Trademark and design fees to acquire protection, including: Application Classes Examination Registration Publication Deferral of publication, where applicable Reimbursement percentage: 75% International coverage International trademark and design fees according to: Madrid System (trademarks) Hague System (designs) Includes basic fees, designation fees and subsequent designations. Refund percentage: 50% Voucher 3 – Aid for registering patents in 2026 The SME Fund 2026 maintains strong support for the protection of technological innovation, covering both official fees and certain legal costs. National patents Prior art search reports. Official fees for national patent applications. Refund percentage: 75% Maximum amount: €1.000 European patents Filing and search fees with the European Patent Office (EPO). Refund percentage: 75% Maximum amount: €1.000 Legal costs Drafting and filing of European patent applications by professional representatives before the EPO. Refund percentage: 50% Maximum amount: €1.500 Maximum total amount for European patents and legal costs: €2.500 Voucher 4 – Aid for plant varieties Maximum amount: Up to €1.500 Eligible items Online application fees. Examination fees at the Community Plant Variety Office (CPVO). Reimbursement percentage: 75% What expenses are not covered by the SME Fund 2026? It is important to note that these grants: Do not cover renewals of Industrial Property rights. They are not retroactive: only expenses incurred after the voucher was granted are reimbursed. They do not subsidize expenses not directly linked to registration or IP services provided for in the call. The impact of the SME Fund 2025: a call for proposals with very solid results. The SME Fund 2025 call for proposals confirmed the practical usefulness of this program as a tool to support SMEs in matters of Industrial Property. The response was significant, with over 35.800 applications submitted by more than 34.000 SMEs across the European Union. The fund financed more than 31.000 Industrial Property activities, benefiting more than 25.000 companies, and achieved a budget execution of 14,7 million euros. In this context, the SME Fund acted as a facilitator for many SMEs and allowed around 77% of the beneficiary companies to access the protection of their Industrial Property rights for the first time, thus initiating the formal protection of trademarks, patents, designs or plant varieties. This was complemented by agile management, with average resolution times of around 8 working days and payments made in about 28 days, a relevant factor for planning investments in innovation and branding. SME Fund 2026 Application Deadline The SME Fund 2026 call for applications opens on February 2, 2026. Given how the call for proposals worked in 2025, it is expected that in 2026 the deadline will remain open until the funds are exhausted and that the grants will be awarded in order of presentation, although this criterion will have to be confirmed when the official call for proposals is published. It is also advisable to prepare the application in advance, since a significant part of the funding is usually committed in the first few weeks (especially that allocated to patents and plant varieties). Specialized advice on EUIPO aid. At Elzaburu we advise SMEs, startups and innovative companies on the planning, application and management of SME Fund aid, as well as on the subsequent processing of trademarks, patents, designs and plant varieties. If you would like to analyze how the SME Fund 2026 fits into your Intellectual Property strategy, our team is available to help you make the most of this opportunity.
The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) has announced the new call for applications for the SME Fund “Ideas Powered for Business” 2025, a grant programme aimed at small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the European Union to promote the protection of their intellectual property assets. This initiative offers financial aid that can be used to cover 50% of the costs associated (maximum €1.500) with the protection of trademarks, designs, patents and plant varieties. In this article we will explore who can benefit from these grants, what concepts are eligible for funding, and the process for applying for them. Who can benefit from EUIPO 2025 aid? The SME Fund 2025 is aimed at SMEs established in the European Union that meet the criteria defined by the European Commission. Generally speaking, a company is considered an SME if it meets these two requirements: It has fewer than 250 employees. Its annual turnover is equal to or less than 50 million euros, or its annual balance sheet is equal to or less than 43 million euros. At the same time, the following may also benefit from these grants: Self-employed workers, provided they can prove their economic activity with an official certificate. Foundations that have less than 25% of their capital in the hands of public entities. What expenses are eligible for SME Fund 2025 funding? The EUIPO programme offers financial support to partially cover the costs related to the application and protection of different industrial property rights. The different categories of subsidies are detailed below: Prepared by the author using the guide published by the EUIPO 1. Brands and designs Maximum amount: up to €700. National, regional and European coverage: Trademark and design fees to acquire protection in the EU: including application, class, examination, registration, publication and deferral of publication fees. Refund rate: 75% International coverage: International trademark and design fees charged for applications (including basic fees, designation fees and subsequent designation fees) under: the international trademark system (Madrid System) and the international designs system (Hague System). Refund percentage: 50% 2. Patents National coverage: Fees for patent prior art searches carried out or coordinated by IPOs of Member States: filing, examination, grant and publication of national patents. 75% refund with a maximum of €1.000 European coverage: Fees for the protection of European patents (filing and search) charged by the EPO. 75% reimbursement with a maximum of €1.000 Legal costs for drafting and filing patent applications by professional representatives before the European Patent Office (EPO) 50% reimbursement with a maximum of €1.500 The maximum bonus amount for patent protection at European level is €2.500. 3. Plant varieties Maximum amount: up to €1.500. Coverage: Fees for filing and examining applications with the Community Plant Variety Office (CPVO). Refund percentage: 75%. Please note that grants only cover the costs associated with registering new IP rights, never renewals. Likewise, they are not retroactive, that is, the eligible expenses must be incurred after the aid is processed; if they are prior to that date, they will not be reimbursable. How to apply for EUIPO aid? The application process for the SME Fund “Ideas Powered for Business” is structured in several phases: Submission of the application: Different types of aid can be requested simultaneously or separately. Evaluation by the EUIPO: The office reviews the application and communicates its decision within approximately 15 working days. Activation of the granted bonuses: Once the aid has been approved, the beneficiary has one month to activate it (with the possibility of extending it for another month). Activation occurs when at least one industrial property activity is carried out and the reimbursement request is submitted. Use of the voucher and request for reimbursement: If the beneficiary does not use the full amount in the first application, he or she has an additional period of six months to carry out other eligible activities and submit requests for reimbursement until the balance is exhausted. Application period and funding of the SME Fund 2025 The call will remain open until December 5, 2025. However, applications are processed on a first-come, first-served basis and funds are limited. The total funding for this edition is 18 million euros, so it is advisable to apply as soon as possible. Further information and advice For further details on this call, the EUIPO has published a guide with guidance for applicants, which can be consulted on its website. If you are interested in applying for these grants for the protection of your industrial property assets, at Elzaburu we have a team of experts who can advise you on the preparation and processing of your application, ensuring that you make the most of this opportunity. Do not hesitate to contact us.
July 27 marked the 40th anniversary of the Regulation on the Protection of Plant Breeders' Rights, a system administered by the Community Plant Variety Office (CPVO), an agency of the European Union with its own legal personality. And to celebrate this anniversary we are going to remember a unique plant variety with countless healing properties. I am referring to the herb known as wound herb, soldier herb, devil's wort or, more commonly called St. John's Wort, a shrub with yellow, gold-colored flowers, native to Europe and the most abundant species of the Hypericaceae family (a genus that includes nearly 500 species worldwide). A plant variety with medicinal properties This bitter-tasting species bases its importance in the industry on its high content of compounds with mainly medicinal properties: it is antidepressant and anxiolytic, anti-inflammatory, healing, antibacterial and antiviral. There are also several publications that point to its possible usefulness in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, which, although it is a promising use, is still far from being a reality in the short term. There are even studies that mention its use as an alternative therapy against AIDS. The most notable and studied active ingredients of this plant are hypericin and hyperforin, although it has many others that, although not as extensively researched, have also been shown to have potentially useful pharmacological effects, such as flavonoids or rutin. Derivatives of St. John's Wort and other medicinal plants, a booming business The current trend towards a healthier lifestyle means that products derived from St. John's Wort, such as pills, capsules, infusions and cosmetics, are a booming business along with other medicinal plants such as valerian, chamomile, eucalyptus or horsetail. All of these products account for more than 36% of the over-the-counter drug market (with a 4% growth over last year). In this growth towards the natural, research in this sector and its protection through industrial property are key figures. More than 7.000 patent applications and about 1.000 related registrations In industrial property, there are more than 7.000 patent applications related to the Hypericum genus, focusing mainly on anticancer activities and central nervous system disorders such as Alzheimer's. Another form of industrial property related to plants is the protection of plant varieties, which is defined as a group of plants selected within a species that present a series of common characteristics. Well, there are about 1.000 records related to the Hypericum genus (between breeder's rights before the different plant variety offices around the world, registration in national lists and plant patents, as in the case of the United States). The new plant varieties presented in this genus pursue an ornamental purpose, uniform flowering, with a high density of bright and large fruits and a high post-production longevity. In this area, the Netherlands and Germany stand out as the main applicants. Many of these varieties have spectacular bright yellow flowers, a long flowering period and shiny brown or red berries that are widely used in park and garden ornamentation. The plant variety Hypericum perforatum has 3.400 patent applications When carrying out the technical examination of the variety, it is necessary to check that the material of the requested variety is distinct, stable and homogeneous and, to do so, the applications for varieties of this Hypericum genus are going to be examined in comparison with the rest of the varieties in the reference collection, some of which have names as suggestive as Flamingo Fantasy, Autum Blaze, Excellent Flair, Magical Green or Extreme Illusion. Focusing on patents for our St. John's wort, Hypericum perforatum, there are nearly 3.400 patent applications related to this herb, with Kimberly Clark Corp. standing out as the two leading applicants. (with hygiene products and which sells well-known brands in Spain such as Scottex, Kleenex, Huggies) and L'Oréal S. A., with its range of skin and hair care products. As for plant varieties, there are about 100 records related to Hypericum perforatum. In short, it is a fact that medicinal plants are becoming more and more fashionable every day and that the natural category is becoming established in pharmacies as an alternative to many conventional medicines. For this reason, those of us who are in the industrial property sector must closely monitor its development and encourage those who work in this sector to adequately protect these valuable intangibles. Marina Reig, Lawyers in the Patent Area of ELZABURU
Session related to the protection of plant varieties according to Law 3/2000 and its regulations Source: COAPI. Online Author(s): María Rosa de la Colina Montero