Skip to main content

EIT and EUIPO: innovation and intellectual property hand in hand

EIT & EUIPO

The European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) and the European Union Intellectual Property office (EUIPO), have signed an agreement that brings together innovation and intellectual property for the benefit of European small and medium size enterprises.

The EIT is an independent body created by the European Union in 2008, to promote entrepreneurship and drive innovation across Europe by integrating business, education and research. The EIT supports early and subsequent growing stages of newly created companies, and the protection of innovation and creativity through intellectual property (IP) at this stage is key to access the market safely and give value to products and services.                             

Both organisations play a complementary role in supporting small and medium size enterprises (SMEs) and entrepreneurs and, as a result, the European economy as a whole. For the EIT Knowledge and Innovation Communities (KICs), this agreement is an excellent opportunity to increase SME knowledge on IP to fully benefit from the protection that IP brings in the global market. With this collaboration, the EIT and the EUIPO intend to find further areas of cooperation through initiatives that support SMEs through the KICs, exchange of tools, training models, events, webinars and content. 

Background:

The EIT strengthens Europe’s ability to innovate by powering cutting edge solutions to pressing global challenges and by nurturing entrepreneurial talent to create sustainable growth and skilled jobs in Europe. The Institute brings together the three key players in innovation – business, higher education and research – to form dynamic pan-European partnerships, the EIT KICs. Each EIT KIC is dedicated to tackling a specific societal challenge, from climate change and sustainable energy to healthy living and food.

Discover EIT's Knowledge and Innovation Communities

The EUIPO is the European agency responsible for managing registrations of the EU trade mark and the registered Community design valid in all EU member states. As part of its Strategic Plan 2025, the SME Programme under the Ideas Powered for business' brand aims to support and empower SMEs on their business journey. The recently launched 'Ideas Powered for business' hub offers made-to-measure information to SMEs, as well as the possibility to sign up for free personalised legal advice on their intellectual property questions.