Event Round-up: Funding Focus - Maximising Intellectual Property
In our latest Funding Focus webinar, techUK brought together experts David Byrne (Moore Kingston Smith) and Adrian Bennett (Venner Shipley) to explore how SMEs can unlock the full value of their intellectual property (IP) across the innovation lifecycle.
The session highlighted that IP is far more than a legal safeguard—it’s a strategic asset that underpins competitive advantage, attracts investment, and enables commercialisation. A well-structured IP strategy can significantly enhance company valuation and credibility with funders.
Key takeaways included the importance of aligning IP protection with business goals, embedding invention harvesting into R&D workflows, and fostering a culture of innovation. SMEs were encouraged to treat IP as a dynamic part of their growth strategy, not a static checklist.
The speakers also outlined government incentives available to support IP development, including R&D tax relief and the Patent Box scheme. Notably, changes to R&D tax rules now require companies to notify HMRC within six months of their accounting year-end—an essential step to avoid missing out on funding.
Common pitfalls discussed included delaying IP strategy development, misunderstanding patent ownership versus freedom to operate, and failing to document IP ownership clearly—especially when collaborating with external partners.
Ultimately, the message was clear: SMEs should act early, engage cross-functional teams, and integrate IP into their funding and growth plans. Doing so not only protects innovation but positions businesses for long-term success.
Funding Focus: Intellectual Property
UK Tech SMEs: Driving Economic Growth and Innovation
This report illustrates the critical impact of tech SMEs across the nations and regions. techUK has combined quantitative data from Beauhurst with interviews from tech SMEs to provide both the current macroeconomic picture of tech SMEs, but also the economic and social impact made by individual tech SMEs.
