On 9 October 2024, the European Innovation Council (EIC) together with the European Patent Office (EPO) organised the online training Licensing-Based Business Models.

This event marked the first in a series of joint training sessions developed for EIC beneficiaries, following the Letter of Intent signed between the EPO and EISMEA in June 2023. Nearly 500 registered participants used the opportunity to learn how to enhance their business models through licensing strategies.

Five speakers shared their expertise in licensing, starting with an overview of licensing fundamentals (Christian Soltmann, EPO), followed by presentations on various licensing-based business models (Bowman Heiden, CIP, and Adéla Dvořáková, EIC). The next session covered the formalization of licensing agreements, offering tips and best practices (Karin Hofmann, LES Austria, and Sonja London, LESI). Two EIC beneficiaries, Infinite Roots (represented by Natalia Drost) and Linari Engineering (represented by Stefano Linari), provided real-life insights into their licensing experiences, sharing advice and recommendations.

The session describing business models based on licensing was based on previously published open access articles Licensing-based Business Models by Bowman Heiden and Thomas Bereuter (EPO) and Empowering the Licensing Capabilities of EIC-Funded Startup Companies by John Cosmopoulos (Tufts University), Thomas Bereuter and EIC authors Anne-Marie Sassen, Francesco Matteucci, Ivan Stefanic, Isabel Obieta and Iordanis Arzimanoglou.

Key takeaways from the event emphasized the importance of selecting a suitable business model early on, tailored to the company’s specific needs, and choosing licensing partners carefully to ensure aligned expectations and long-term, mutually beneficial collaboration. As highlighted by the case studies of Linari Engineering and Infinite Roots, it is especially critical for start-ups to engage IP professionals early to close sustainable deals. 

The importance of learning from standard clauses in licensing agreements was also underscored, particularly provisions for cost-sharing with licensees and clauses ensuring that the licensee takes relevant steps to commercialize the technology within a specified time frame and according to its potential. Learning from established model agreements was recommended as a strategy to ensure that no critical provisions are overlooked in a licensing deal.

For more detailed information, see the recorded session, agenda, and slides from the event.