Annual IP Helpdesk Conference: Empowering EU SMEs

Join us at the Annual IP Helpdesk Conference: Empowering EU SMEs: IP Support Instruments for Business in the EU and Global Markets, taking place online on Thursday, 29 October 2026, from 9:30 AM to 2:00 PM.

Organised by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), the conference is aimed at stakeholders across the European intellectual property, innovation and entrepreneurship support ecosystem.

This year’s conference will focus on how the IP Helpdesk programme can further strengthen its support for European small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in an increasingly competitive and global business environment.

As intellectual property becomes an increasingly important factor in business resilience, innovation and growth, the conference will provide an opportunity to exchange views on the services, tools and partnerships that help SMEs protect, manage and leverage their intangible assets more effectively.

The programme will cover different stages of the business development journey – from early-stage guidance and business development to commercialisation, growth and scaling, investment readiness and internationalisation. Through discussions with institutional representatives, support service providers and businesses, the conference will showcase concrete experiences from Europe and key international markets, as well as strategic priorities shaping the future of SME support in this field.

The conference will explore:

• how IP Helpdesk services support European businesses;
• the broader range of support instruments available through EUIPO and national and international institutions;
• how different support instruments complement one another throughout the innovation cycle;
• financing, licensing and investment opportunities for SMEs;
• experiences and good practices shared by experts, institutions and businesses.

The event is aimed at anyone working in SME support, innovation policy, intellectual property, technology transfer or business development.

The conference will offer practical insights and opportunities for networking, as well as a chance to reflect together on how to create better conditions for European SMEs to succeed – both in Europe and in global markets.

Register for the conference here.