Horizon IP scan : helping SMEs manage and valorise intellectual property in R&I collaborations

The Horizon IP Scan has been launched as a new pilot service initiated by the European Commission, the European Innovation Council (EIC), and the SME Executive Agency (EISMEA). The pilot will run until November 2023. The service design took into account existing IP pre-diagnosis services and refers to a cooperation scheme with National IP Offices (NIPOs) to support the service provision. The goal of the service was to help European start-ups and other SMEs involved in EU-funded collaborative research projects to efficiently develop and implement strategies to manage and valorise IP in collaborative R&I activities. This should in turn facilitate the exploitation of innovations resulting from collaborative projects. The advice and recommendations provided by local IP experts were intended to help the SMEs to develop a cooperative way to manage intellectual property created in collaborations. Applications were eligible from SMEs located in EU Member States, as well as Horizon associated countries. In total, Horizon IP Scan received applications from 35 different countries. The beneficiaries of the service were European SMEs involved in collaborative Horizon 2020 or Horizon Europe projects. Results refer to 352 cases implemented in the period from March 2021 to October 2023. The full report will be available in January 2024. This document is a shorter draft version of a study report aiming to analyse and summarise the main results and lessons learnt from the provision of Horizon IP Scan services. This report aims to provide a brief statistical analysis of Horizon IP Scan applicant profiles, as well as to share insights about challenges, and blocking and enabling factors to run the service in the given format. Moreover, the report will highlight motivations of SMEs to apply for the service and provide insights into main IP challenges faced by SMEs when participating in collaborative Horizon 2020/Horizon Europe projects.