Strengthening SME IP Capacities in Europe – Highlights from the IP Ambassador Winter Summit 2025

The European IP Helpdesk hosted this year’s IP Ambassador Winter Summit 2025 on 2–3 December at the European Patent Office (EPO) Vienna Office — bringing together IP Ambassadors from across Europe to strengthen IP capabilities, reinforce cooperation frameworks and support the strategic goals of the European Innovation Ecosystem. 

The IP Ambassador Scheme, implemented in cooperation with the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) and supported by EISMEA, plays a central role in making IP expertise available “at SMEs’ doorstep”. Operating since 2013, the ambition of the scheme aligns closely with core EU policy priorities: improving innovation uptake, strengthening SME competitiveness, and enhancing knowledge valorisation capacities across Europe. 

Opening through an EU policy lens 

The Summit was opened by Raquel Xalabarder (Director, European Patent Academy), followed by Gérald Cultot (Deputy Head of Unit, EU and place-based Innovation Ecosystems, EISMEA). 
Both highlighted the strategic importance of intellectual property for Europe’s innovation performance, SME resilience and the functioning of regional innovation ecosystems. 
They also underlined the relevance of coordinated support structures — notably the EEN, EU IP Helpdesk, and EPO — in implementing EU-level objectives. 

EPO contribution: advancing skills and tools for innovation actors 

The EPO delivered an extensive Day 1 programme covering topics that directly support EU objectives around deep-tech development, technology transfer and SME innovation. The agenda included: 

• IP strategy and real-world innovation case studies 

• The PATLIB 2028 vision for strengthening Europe’s IP service infrastructure 

• Benefits of the Unitary Patent for SMEs 

• Financing innovation and university patenting 

• Deep Tech Finder and MyIPscore 

These topics support key EU strategies, including the New European Innovation Agenda, the SME Strategy, and Europe’s initiative to boost knowledge valorisation and deep-tech entrepreneurship. 

We extend our gratitude to the EPO team — Raquel Xalabarder, Bente Fjeldberg, Thomas Bereuter, Massimo Corsi and Rainer Kaysan — for their leadership and collaboration. 

A network that strengthens Europe’s innovation ecosystem 

IP Ambassadors — all part of the EEN — act as IP multipliers within regional innovation ecosystems. Their ability to support SMEs in national languages directly contributes to the EU’s objectives of building inclusive, accessible, and decentralised support structures. 

The Summit offered the community a platform to align on trends, compare practices and discuss how regional needs evolve in the context of technological change and EU-level policy developments. 

A festive walk through Vienna’s Christmas market and a joint dinner offered space for informal, community-building exchange among onsite participants. 

Day 2: Alignment, capacity building and policy feedback 

Day 2 focused on internal and strategic topics: 

• strengthening the position of IP Ambassadors within the broader EEN framework, 

• updating the community on EU IP Helpdesk activities and upcoming workstreams, 

• collecting insights from the fields — valuable bottom-up feedback for EU policymaking, 

• discussing cooperation priorities to respond to emerging SME and ecosystem needs. 

In his closing remarks, Daniel Gassmann (EISMEA) emphasised the importance of continued capacity building and recognised the Ambassadors’ unique role in translating EU policy goals into local impact across Europe. 

A scheme with continuity — and forward momentum 

Since 2013, the IP Ambassador Scheme has supported European SMEs in making better use of their intellectual assets. Many Ambassadors have been active from the beginning; new members join regularly, contributing fresh expertise relevant for emerging technologies and industry trends. 

This year, we also expressed our warm appreciation to Udo, one of the scheme’s founding members, who is retiring from the EEN but will remain engaged as an independent expert. 

Looking ahead: IP as an enabler of Europe’s innovation transition 

The European IP Helpdesk will continue to work closely with the EPO, EISMEA, and the EEN to strengthen IP skills and awareness across Europe. 
As Europe advances its ambitions in deep-tech innovation, industrial competitiveness and knowledge valorisation, empowering SMEs and intermediaries with strong IP capabilities remains a key priority. 

We thank all participants and partners for a highly successful edition of the Winter Summit 2025 and look forward to the next steps together.