Intellectual Property (IP) Due Diligence Service Experts - Call for Expression of Interest

European Innovation Council (EIC) is a key novelty of Horizon Europe and represents the most ambitious innovation initiative that Europe has taken, with a budget of €10 billion for the period 2021-2027. Three main granting schemes offered by the European Innovation Council (EIC) are EIC Pathfinder, EIC Transition and EIC Accelerator.

The Horizon Europe European Innovation Council, implemented by the European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA) supported by EUIPO’s expertise are implementing IP due diligence services to EIC funded beneficiaries.

Objectives and scope

By this call for expression of interest, EISMEA seeks to draw up a list of IP specialists willing to offer IP due diligence services (the “experts”) to beneficiaries who have received EIC funding  (the “beneficiaries”) in the Member States of the European Union (EU) or associated countries.

The scope of the IP due diligence service will be limited only to IP rights related to projects covered by EIC grants.

• Acceptance of your application for expression of interest does not automatically imply that you will be assigned a task. This will depend on our business needs and fulfilment of certain formal requirements.

By replying to this call you agree to perform potential assignments in appropri­ate quality standards and in compliance with the Impartiality and Confidentiality clauses from the Code of Conduct.

Timetable and deadlines

This call for expression of interest is permanently open from 15 February 2023 to 29 March 2023.

Eligible profiles

We are looking for experts with a place of business or employment in a Member State of the EU, with a high level of expertise and professional experience in intellectual property.

Experts are required to be IP practitioners qualified at least in one EU Member State or EEA with at least 5-years professional experience in one or more of these areas:

• IP due diligence
• IP audit
• IP pre-diagnostic / IP Scan
• Management of IP portfolios, including legal advice in IP strategy
• Representation of clients in IP disputes
• Legal advice in contracts commercialising IP rights, including agreements for licensing and transferring intellectual property, and brand co-existence agreements

The experience shall cover broad range of IP rights, at least trade marks and patents at national, European and international level.

IP due diligence services will be conducted in English language. Experts are required to have at least C1 language skills of English.

If selected for assignments involving classified information, you will need to obtain appropriate security clearance from their national security authority (NSA).

Procedure

In order to be selected as an expert in providing IP due diligence services under this Call of expression of interest, you must declare your interest by sending your application via the following link: EUSurvey - Survey (europa.eu)

From the applications received EISMEA - EUIPO will draw up a list of vetted IP experts.

EISMEA will inform you on the outcome of your application (within 4 weeks).

Should a beneficiary be interested in the provision of your service, we will contact you to propose the task assignment and check your availability.

Please note that registration in the list of applicants of IP due diligence services does nothing more than declare your interest in the initiative and does not entail any entitlement to receive assignments. The appropriate identity and eligibility checks will be conducted after the registration and will be based on your application.

Questions about the process can be made to the following email address:

EISMEA-E-02ec [dot] europa [dot] eu (EISMEA-E-02[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu)