Collaborating for IP Advancement and Innovation: EIT and EUIPO sign new agreement

Since formalising their collaboration in 2020, the European Institute of Innovation & Technology (EIT) and the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) play a complementary role in supporting SMEs and entrepreneurs. Under its 2030 Strategic Plan, the EUIPO paves the way for a number of initiatives and activities aimed at fostering and further cementing EUIPO’s cooperation with the EIT. The signature on 2 April 2025 of a Memorandum of Understanding and a common work plan for 2025 is the logical materialisation of this ambition.

The meeting also provided an opportunity for the EUIPO's Executive Director, João Negrão, to express his gratitude to the EIT's Director, Martin Kern, for his participation in the DesignEuropa Awards jury and for the Institute's active promotion of the SME Fund.

Looking ahead: The EIT-EUIPO work programme for 2025

In 2024, the collaboration between the two European entities yielded 41 joint activities, engaging 6,850 direct participants and raising awareness about IP and innovation.

Building on this success, the EIT and EUIPO will continue to work together in 2025, with a focus on organizing training sessions for SMEs, start-ups, women entrepreneurs, and the EIT youth education community. A notable example is the IP Masterclass scheduled for April 2025, which will provide EIT Girls Go Circular students and teachers with insights on protecting innovation and creativity in the digital age, with a special focus on gaming, music, and fashion. The Ideas Powered for Business network event, set to take place in Alicante on April 28-29, 2025, is another key milestone in the work programme.

While the list of activities is extensive, it is not exhaustive, as the EIT and EUIPO will continue to receive and assess new proposals for initiatives throughout the year.

Background: About the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT)

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.