Annual IP Helpdesk Stakeholder Conference 2026

The 2026 Annual IP Helpdesk Stakeholder Conference, hosted this year by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), will bring together representatives from the European intellectual property (IP) and innovation support landscape to explore how the IP Helpdesk programme can continue to strengthen support for EU small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in an increasingly competitive and global environment.

As IP becomes more central to business resilience, innovation and growth, the conference will give the chance to exchange views on the services, tools and partnerships that help SMEs protect, manage and leverage their intangible assets more effectively. The event will showcase not only the different IP Helpdesk services, both in Europe and beyond, but also the wider range of EUIPO, national and international tools and support instruments available to SMEs throughout their innovation journey.

The programme will offer a broad perspective on the SME support journey, from early guidance and business development to exploitation, investment readiness and internationalisation. Through discussions with institutional actors, support service providers and businesses, the conference will highlight concrete experiences from Europe and key international markets, as well as the strategic priorities that will shape future action in this field.

Why attend?

This conference will be a great opportunity to:

• take stock of the impact of IP Helpdesk services on EU businesses;
• discover the broader system of EUIPO, national and international support available to SMEs;
• explore how different support instruments complement one another across the innovation cycle;
• discuss financing, licensing and investment opportunities for SMEs.

Whether you are involved in SME support, innovation policy, IP services or business development, this conference will offer valuable insights, practical perspectives and opportunities for exchange. It will also provide a space to reflect on how to ensure that EU SMEs are better equipped to succeed both within Europe and in global markets.