Horizon IP Scan: Free IP advisory service for SMEs in EIC Pathfinder and Transition projects
- ›Horizon IP Scan is a free first line IP advisory service for European start ups and SMEs participating in EU funded collaborative research projects.
- ›The service offers an IP pre diagnosis through a preparation phase, an interview or site visit, and a written report with recommendations.
- ›It is open to SMEs involved in EIC Pathfinder and Transition collaborations and to SMEs participating in Horizon 2020 or Horizon Europe collaborative projects.
- ›Advice is delivered by local IP experts across the EU and is provided on a first come first serve basis to single SMEs or preferably to groups of SMEs in a consortium.
- ›The service helps with background and foreground IP issues, patent landscaping, protection options and joint exploitation strategies but it is a diagnostic service and not a substitute for formal legal representation.
Horizon IP Scan: what it is and who it is for
Horizon IP Scan is a free, first line intellectual property advisory service set up by the European Commission to help start ups and small and medium sized enterprises manage and valorise IP when they participate in EU funded collaborative research and innovation projects. The service targets SMEs involved in EIC Pathfinder and Transition projects and more broadly SMEs cooperating in Horizon 2020 or Horizon Europe R&I consortia. The aim is to give SMEs a practical, jargon free assessment of the IP they bring into a project and guidance on how to agree and implement an IP strategy with their partners.
Core offer and typical problems addressed
The Horizon IP Scan follows an IP pre diagnosis principle. It covers preparatory work, a main meeting which can be in person or online, and a written report with recommendations. The service may be provided to an individual SME but is preferably delivered to groups of SMEs that are collaborating in a project. Its practical focus is on early stage issues that routinely cause friction in EU collaborative projects such as unclear ownership of background assets, timing of protection versus dissemination, and the absence of a shared exploitation plan.
What the Scan covers across a project lifecycle
The service is structured to support SMEs at different project stages. At project start the focus is on cataloguing background IP, checking whether default Horizon IP rules are appropriate, and carrying out an initial patent landscape. During project implementation the Scan looks at knowledge management workflows, protection methods such as patents, copyrights, trade secrets and defensive publications, and the pros and cons of each. After project end the service assists in defining joint exploitation strategies, ownership arrangements, licensing options and ways to remunerate contributors.
| Stage | Key actions | Typical outputs |
| Before or at project start | Identify background IP, carry out initial patent landscape, review default IP rules | IP inventory, risk and opportunity overview, recommendations on sharing and protection |
| During project | Map knowledge creation, discuss protection methods, set disclosure and confidentiality rules | Guidance on protection methods, confidentiality regime, internal knowledge management |
| After project | Define exploitation and ownership, draft licensing options and remuneration pathways | Joint exploitation plan, suggested ownership arrangements, licensing templates and next steps |
How the service is delivered
Horizon IP Scan is run by a central coordination team and draws on a network of local IP experts covering EU Member States and associated countries. The local experts include private patent and IP attorneys, trained staff from national IP offices and experts at innovation agencies. The process generally follows three steps. First a preparation phase with a pre interview and review of submitted documents. Second a main interview that may be an on site visit or an online meeting. Third a written report with practical recommendations. Language choice is usually that of the applicants or English. The service is offered on a first come first serve basis and may be delivered to single SMEs or to groups of SMEs within the same collaborative project.
Eligibility and how to apply
The service is aimed at European start ups and SMEs participating in collaborative projects funded by the European Commission. It is explicitly available to SMEs involved in EIC Pathfinder collaborations and to SMEs participating in Horizon 2020 and Horizon Europe projects. SMEs involved in EIC Pathfinder and Transition projects may apply during Grant Agreement preparation or up to six months after the project start. SMEs can apply at any time by completing the Horizon IP Scan service request form. Some related initiatives such as the Horizon Results Booster and referrals from the Enterprise Europe Network can also signpost SMEs to the service.
Why this matters for EU deep tech and innovation scale up
IP management is a recurring bottleneck in consortia that combine academic partners, research organisations and small companies. SMEs often arrive under resourced for sophisticated IP planning while the legal arrangements needed to commercialise collaborative results are complex and cross border. A focused early assessment can reduce negotiation friction, prevent inefficient disclosures and help translate research results into marketable products. That in turn supports the European Innovation Council and Horizon Europe objectives of turning breakthrough research into scalable businesses.
Limitations, realistic expectations and follow up needs
Horizon IP Scan is a first line advisory and diagnostic service. It provides practical recommendations but it is not a substitute for formal legal representation, for detailed intellectual property prosecution work or for investor due diligence. For example the service can identify freedom to operate risks but it will not provide full litigation or enforcement services. Costs for filing patents, maintaining rights and carrying out cross border prosecution remain with the SME and can be substantial. SMEs should treat the report as a roadmap that will often require follow up work with patent attorneys, transactional lawyers or specialist commercial advisers.
Practical next steps and contact
If you are an SME participating in an eligible EU collaborative research project consider the following steps. Gather a basic IP inventory that lists patents, pending applications, key trade secrets and relevant contractual obligations. Reserve time for the pre interview and prepare a short pitch on commercial plans and intended exploitation. Use the Horizon IP Scan form to request the service early in the grant agreement preparation or within six months after project start if you are in an EIC Pathfinder or Transition project. Treat the written report as a guide and budget for follow up legal and commercial work.
Contact and further information. The Horizon IP Scan service has been managed by a central coordination team and runs on an EU wide network of experts. For questions or to request the Scan use the official service request channel or contact the central coordination team by e mail at contact@horizon-ipscan.eu. Also consult the IP Helpdesk and EIC support pages for related IP resources and for links to National Contact Points and the Enterprise Europe Network.
Final assessment
The Horizon IP Scan fills a clear and practical gap for resource constrained SMEs entering complex multi partner projects. It can reduce transaction costs and improve the prospects for commercial exploitation of project results. At the same time the service has inherent limits. It is diagnostic and advisory in nature. SMEs should not expect it to replace formal legal counsel, to underwrite the costs of patent prosecutions or to manage long term IP enforcement. Used as an early risk reduction tool it is valuable. Decision makers in SMEs and project coordinators should treat it as a first step and plan for the legal and commercial investments that follow.