When Ideas Pay Off: Your IP Could Fund Your Business

At the end of September, the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) hosted the European Association of Guarantee Institutions (AECM) in Alicante. The two-day meeting brought together public banks, EU institutions, and financial experts to discuss one key question: how can intellectual property — from trademarks to patents — help businesses access new sources of funding?

For the first time, financial institutions and public banks put intellectual property (IP) on their main agenda. The workshop featured insights from the European Commission and the European Investment Fund on how IP could be recognised as a valuable business asset, not just a legal formality. The discussions ranged from creating a standardised approach to IP valuation to exploring how guarantee schemes can better support start-ups and SMEs that rely on innovation rather than physical assets.

The EUIPO outlined its plans to raise awareness and train financial institutions on using IP as collateral, encouraging stronger collaboration with the banking sector. Members of AECM shared practical examples from their own countries, pointing out both the opportunities and the current challenges of integrating IP into financing tools. The session wrapped up with a shared goal: building a more innovation-friendly financial environment under the next EU budget framework.

The EUIPO will soon release a comprehensive report on IP-backed finance, analysing how small and medium-sized enterprises across Europe can leverage their intangible assets to close the funding gap. As financial institutions start to recognise IP as a real source of value, this shift could open new doors for innovative businesses.

Do you want to understand how intellectual property can strengthen your company’s financial strategy? Book a free consultation today!

Text: ‘EUIPO-AECM Meeting: A New Chapter for IP-Backed Finance’. EUIPO, https://www.euipo.europa.eu/en/news/euipo-aecm-meeting-a-new-chapter-for-ip-backed-finance. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025.

Photo: 'A Close-Up Shot of a Person Stacking Coins' by Towfiqu barbhuiya: https://www.pexels.com/photo/a-close-up-shot-of-a-person-stacking-coins-9755376/