Intellectual property and innovation take centre stage at EUIPO event in Alicante

IASP President Salvatore Majorana and IASP CEO Ebba Lund attended the Ideas Powered for Business Network event on 8 October, hosted by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) in Alicante, Spain. Held under the theme of Driving European Innovation Together, the event provided an opportunity to strengthen collaboration on intellectual property (IP) and explore how innovation and financial communities can better support businesses, researchers and innovators by coming together.

Welcomed by Andrea Di Carlo, Deputy Executive Director of EUIPO, attendees took part in keynote presentations, networking sessions and interactive roundtable discussions focused on strengthening support for European businesses. They were also inspired by company stories, SME reality checks and funding journeys shared by local entrepreneurs. Discussions addressed IP-backed finance, sustainability and the circular economy, new areas of focus to boost EU competitiveness, as well as inclusiveness and diversity.

One highlight of the event was IASP being welcomed into the ‘Ideas Powered for Business Network’ alongside the European Banking Federation, the European Microfinance Network, the European Investment Fund and the European Association of Long-Term Investors. The collaboration builds on the Memorandum of Understanding signed between IASP and EUIPO in April 2026, with a special focus on the European Division of IASP.

Inge Buffolo, EUIPO Director of Business Development, shared insights and network updates, highlighting the importance of working together across organisations, areas of expertise and perspectives. The ‘Ideas Powered for Business Network’ is an important platform for continuing to add value to European SMEs and unlocking their scaling potential.

Science parks, innovation districts and other innovation spaces play a key role as enabling environments for innovative companies. Bringing the IP system closer to the managers of innovation ecosystems and their resident companies will further strengthen efforts to help entrepreneurs turn the value of their IP assets into tangible economic value. We can do this even better by building on the diversity of networks such as the one convened in Alicante, and IASP looks forward to the shared work ahead.