Horizon IP Scan: A new Intellectual Property (IP) Service Open to SMEs Involved in EIC Pathfinder and Transition Projects.

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) must make best use of all relevant knowledge of IP to maximise the benefits of collaborative projects, to achieve their business objectives, and to develop and successfully commercialise innovations.

Introducing the Horizon IP Scan Service, a new - free of charge - IP advisory service supporting European start-ups and SMEs involved in EU-funded collaborative research projects to efficiently manage and valorise IP in collaborative research and innovation (R&I) activities. It is open to SMEs involved in EIC Pathfinder collaborations. The advice and recommendations provided by local IP experts will help the SMEs develop a shared strategy with their partners to manage intellectual property created in those collaborations.

The service follows the general principle of IP pre-diagnosis, and covers different steps such as preparation work, a visit (or online-meeting), and the provision of a report. The service may be provided to a single SME or, preferably, to a group of SMEs involved in a collaborative research project.

The Horizon IP Scan service targets the initial phase of new EIC Pathfinder and Transition projects: SMEs involved in EIC Pathfinder and Transition projects may apply during the Grant Agreement preparation phase or up to six months after the project’s start.

SMEs can apply for the Horizon IP Scan at any time via the Horizon IP Scan form.