Enterprise Ireland’s IP Start grant
Budget constraints often mean that start-up and scaling companies delay or overlook intellectual property protection, leaving valuable assets exposed. The “IP Start” grant helps remove that barrier by providing up to €5,000 in funding for expert IP advice and support. Our Intellectual Property and Fast Growth Companies teams discuss the grant.
Due to the perceived cost burden and limited legal budgets, start-up and scaling companies often neglect formal steps to protect their intellectual property (IP). For similar reasons, these companies may also miss opportunities to enhance their IP.
However, this does not need to be the case. There is grant funding available to help.
In this article, we explain how your business can use the Enterprise Ireland IP Start grant to cover up to €5,000 of legal and other costs to protect and enhance your most valuable asset.
What is the grant?
The IP Start grant covers the costs of certain external IP advisory and support services. Successful applicants receive funding up to a maximum of 80% of eligible costs capped at €6,250. That is to say, the maximum grant is €5,000, which is 80% of €6,250.
The grant is available to:
- An Enterprise Ireland High Potential Start Up (HPSU) client, or
- An Irish owned business operating in the manufacturing/internationally traded services sectors employing 10 people or more.
If you are not already an Enterprise Ireland client, you may still be able to apply through your Local Enterprise Office (LEO) but the grant level and application process are a little different here. Contact your Local Enterprise Office where your LEO Business Advisor can discuss your application and guide you through the process.
Once you are ready to apply, you can visit the application portal for the IP Start grant.
What legal costs are eligible?
One of the best features of the IP Start grant is its flexibility. It can cover a broad range of IP-related services. We have worked with clients who have received the IP Start grant to develop a scope of work and to help them with eligible services such as:
- Trade mark applications
- IP licensing and commercialisation, and
- IP audits.
In addition, the grant can also be used to cover other advisory costs including:
- Prior-art research in support of RD&I technical feasibility studies, and
- Drafting and filing a patent.
Not sure what you need?
If you are not sure what IP protections your business has or might need in the future, we can help to assess your options and see what makes the most sense for your business.
One of the most common uses for the IP Start grant is for an IP audit, so a business can assess where it is deficient in terms of IP strategy. Notably, this assessment can then be used as a base to make a case for applying for some of Enterprise Ireland’s larger IP grants.
Beware: no double funding
Be aware that receipt of another grant from Enterprise Ireland or others may impact your eligibility for support under the IP Start grant.
Notably, the same costs cannot be grant-aided under both Enterprise Ireland’s IP Start grant and the EUIPO’s SME Fund. The EUIPO’s SME Fund is a useful resource to cover some of the costs of, for example, trade mark and patent applications.
For more information, read our article on the EUIPO’s SME Fund:
A grant with a decent success rate
According to Enterprise Ireland, they have roughly 200 one-to-one IP scoping engagements with Irish startups and SMEs per year, and about half of these engagements lead to a grant application. This initial engagement to check eligibility and clarify IP needs, means that the majority of grant applications received are approved.
What next?
IP is often the most valuable asset of a business. But its protection is frequently not addressed due to costs and other issues. By utilising grants like the IP Start grant to reduce the cost barrier, a business can benefit from:
- Ensuring the core value of the business is protected
- Generating revenue streams
- Attracting investment, investors generally require IP to be protected as a funding condition
- Providing competitive advantage in the marketplace
- Reducing the risk of legal disputes, which can be costly both financially and reputationally, and
- Potentially reducing tax liabilities
Our Intellectual Property and Fast Growth Companies teams have a lot of experience helping clients with their IP, funding and legal needs. If you are a start-up or scaling company in Ireland with global ambitions and are looking for assistance with your IP needs, please get in touch with a member of our team.
The content of this article is provided for information purposes only and does not constitute legal or other advice.
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