Commission, EISMEA and EUIPO sign letter of intent to align IP management for market uptake of research
- ›The European Commission Directorate General for Research and Innovation, the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency and the European Union Intellectual Property Office signed a letter of intent to cooperate on intellectual property management.
- ›The commitment aims to develop closer collaboration on IP actions to help translate research results into market uptake and support the European Research Area objective.
- ›The agreement is a first step and non-binding so its impact will depend on concrete follow up, resourcing and co-ordination across EU actors and member states.
- ›Potential benefits include clearer IP support for researchers and startups, better access to IP expertise and pathways to commercialisation, but practical barriers remain.
Commission, EISMEA and EUIPO sign letter of intent to align IP management for market uptake of research
On 10 November 2021 the European Commission's Directorate General for Research and Innovation, the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency known as EISMEA and the European Union Intellectual Property Office or EUIPO signed a letter of intent to cooperate on intellectual property management. The stated goal is to develop a cooperation process that brings the parties closer together on IP related actions in order to support the European Research Area objective of translating research results into the economy and to improve Europe’s competitive leadership in technology.
What the announcement says
The document signed is a letter of intent for co-operation on intellectual property management. It commits the signatories to develop processes for closer collaboration on IP related actions. The official framing links this cooperation to a broader policy objective. That objective is to increase the market uptake of research output so that publicly funded science and deep tech can be translated into economic activity and competitiveness for Europe.
Who is involved and what they bring
| Organization | Function in the initiative | What it can contribute |
| European Commission Directorate General for Research and Innovation | Policy lead for research programmes and the European Research Area | Design of research policy, links to Horizon Europe programmes, governance and high level objectives for research commercialisation |
| European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA) | Implements EIC activities and manages related programmes | Operational delivery of innovation support, business acceleration services, coaching and grant/investment management |
| European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) | EU agency responsible for trademarks, designs and IP awareness work | Expertise on IP tools, registration processes, training and outreach to SMEs and innovators |
Why the move matters for research and innovation
Improving how IP is managed inside the EU innovation ecosystem can help bridge a persistent gap between research and market adoption. Researchers and early stage deep tech teams often lack the IP strategy knowledge required to protect inventions, to present them to investors and to negotiate licensing or spin out arrangements. By aligning the expertise of EUIPO with the delivery capacity of EISMEA and the policy levers of the Commission, there is a possibility to create more consistent, easier to navigate IP support for innovators.
Potential benefits and practical outputs
A practical cooperation between these actors could deliver specific, useful outputs. These include training and capacity building for technology transfer offices and startups, harmonised guidance and toolkits for IP strategy targeted at researchers, shared referral pathways so that EIC-supported companies can access EUIPO services, and coordinated outreach so that national support organisations and NCPs are aligned. In the best case these measures reduce time to market for research results and make EU-funded innovations more investable.
Limits, risks and unanswered questions
While the stated objectives align with long standing policy goals, a letter of intent is only a first step. There is little detail in the announcement on timelines, resources or accountability. Real barriers remain such as the cost and complexity of patenting, variability in technology transfer office capacity across member states, fragmentation of support services, and the often slow pace of IP prosecution compared with commercial timetables. Cross border enforcement and differences in national legal practice also complicate matters for SMEs.
Data sharing, confidentiality and governance issues
Closer cooperation will require some form of information exchange about projects and applicants. That raises questions about data protection, confidentiality for sensitive prior art and commercial information and how competing demands will be balanced across agencies and Member States. Governance rules, access control and clear data protection safeguards will be necessary to preserve trust among researchers and companies.
What to watch for next
To judge whether this commitment delivers value the key indicators to watch are whether a published roadmap or workplan appears, whether pilot schemes are funded, and whether measurable outputs such as training modules, IP vouchers or streamlined referral pathways are created. Stakeholders should expect public consultations or calls for proposals where the cooperation moves from intent to implementation.
Recommendations and practical next steps
If the signatories want the cooperation to have a measurable impact they should set out a clear roadmap with milestones and budgets, agree data protection and confidentiality rules, and prioritise pilot services that solve the most acute problems for researchers and startups. Examples include IP awareness training, subsidised prosecution or voucher schemes for SMEs, and better resourcing for technology transfer offices in widening regions. Co-ordination with national authorities, NCPs and the Enterprise Europe Network is also crucial to avoid duplication and to scale what works.
Bottom line
The letter of intent between the Commission services, EISMEA and EUIPO reflects a sensible and widely shared ambition to make IP work better for research commercialisation. The announcement is a necessary first step but it is not sufficient on its own. The impact will hinge on follow up, funding, clear governance and delivery of concrete services that address the practical IP needs of researchers, startups and SMEs across the EU.