Düsseldorf, November 8, 2023 – Start-ups that hold patents and trademarks have a much better chance of raising capital. This was the finding of a recent study by the European Patent Office (EPO). According to the study, start-ups that possess such IP rights during their initial seed or early growth stages are over 10.2 times more likely to secure funding on average.
The report also shows that, on average, 29% of European start-ups have filed intellectual property rights. The biotech sector is particularly IP-intensive, with almost half (48%) of new start-ups holding patents or trademarks. The science and technology (47%), healthcare (40%), and manufacturing sectors (40%) are also very IP-minded.
In its study, the EPO emphasizes the benefits that European patents and trademarks offer start-ups: the probability of securing early-stage funding with these is more than five times higher than with purely national intellectual property rights (6.1 times higher for trademarks and 5.3 times higher for patents).
EPO President António Campinos said: “Start-ups hold the potential to develop new solutions that can tackle society’s most pressing challenges and deliver a more sustainable future. So we must find ways to support our start-ups further. This year the EPO has made great progress with the introduction of the Unitary Patent.” The EPO’s new Observatory on Patents and Technology has also launched a digital tool to help potential investors identify and assess promising start-ups with its Deep Tech Finder.
Cohausz & Florack (C&F) has been committed to promoting young companies for a long time. “IP rights are especially highly recommended for start-ups that present their ideas in pitches, as part of collaborations, or in other contexts, and are an important factor in the successful development of the company,” says Svenja Schwandt, patent attorney at Cohausz & Florack (C&F). C&F has launched a start-up consultation service to inform young companies about the IP potential of their ideas and possible steps on the path to applying for IP rights. It takes place every Wednesday between 2 and 3 p.m. Spaces can be booked via the C&F website.
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