Impact IPR on Companies' Performances

Nathan Wajsman (Chief Economist of the European Observatory on Infringements of Intellectual Property Rights) presented the report drafted by the European Patent Office (EPO), European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) at the FPS economy event focused on start-ups that took place on 24 April, 2025.

This study examines the economic outcomes of companies that hold Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) in contrast to those that do not register such rights. Drawing from a comprehensive dataset spanning 2013-2022, the study evaluates over 119,000 firms across all 27 EU member states. The scope of the investigation encompasses patents, trademarks, and designs registered with the European Patent Office (EPO), the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), as well as national and regional IP offices within the European Union.

Main findings

In general companies that hold IPR perform better than those that do not register such rights.

• Companies with intellectual property rights (IPRs) generate 23.8% more revenue per employee compared to those without IPRs.
• When adjusting for factors like industry, company size, and location, this revenue advantage increases to 41%, with an even greater impact observed among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
• Businesses that own IPRs also pay employees wages that are, on average, 22% higher than those paid by companies without IPRs.
• Approximately half of large companies hold IPRs.
• While only around 10% of small and medium-sized businesses register IPRs, those that do report 44% higher revenue per employee compared to their counterparts without IPRs.