The EUIPO and JPO organise workshop on IPR support for business and IP valuation
The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), in collaboration with the Japan Patent Office (JPO), organised an online workshop on intellectual property (IP) rights support for business and IP valuation under the EU–Japan IP Action. Held over two days on 7-8 September, the workshop brought together experts and institutional representatives from Europe and Japan to explore how intellectual property can support business development and improve access to finance, particularly for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Speakers from the EUIPO outlined the findings of the EUIPO study “IP-backed finance in Europe: state of play and future perspectives”, including the innovation financing gap, the role of IP, and the key challenges related to valuation, data and the financial and regulatory environment. The EUIPO also presented its IP-Backed Finance Roadmap covering the different stages from disclosure and screening to valuation and financing, and its work on international cooperation in IP-backed Finance, including international benchmarking, exchange of practices and evidence and improving the usability of IP-related information for financing decisions.
The JPO introduced Japan’s IP Finance Project and the use of IP Business Evaluation Reports as a tool to support SME financing. The Japan Patent Attorneys Association (JPAA) further explained how IP valuation reports can help assess business potential, identify finance-ready firms and translate IP information into decision-useful material for financial institutions. The programme also included a regulatory and supervisory perspective on the role of IP-related information in financing decisions.
Representatives from the European Commission, the National Center for Industrial Property Information and Training (INPIT), the European Investment Fund (EIF), and the Development Bank of Japan (DBJ) shared insights into SME finance-readiness, guarantee mechanisms, innovation finance and the practical use of IP-related information in banking and lending contexts.
Participants also learned about concrete examples and success stories from the Japanese market, illustrating how IP can be integrated into financing processes and business assessment. A panel discussion brought together representatives from European and Japanese institutions to reflect on the respective approaches to IP-backed finance, identify common challenges and opportunities, and discuss future perspectives for continued EU–Japan cooperation.
The workshop provided a valuable platform for the exchange of knowledge and experience, while reinforcing dialogue between the EU and Japan on the growing importance of intellectual property in business strategy, valuation and access to finance.