The impact of intellectual property on the European Union economy

The EPO (European Patent Office) and EUIPO (European Union Industrial Property Office) have studied the impact of intellectual property on the economy of the European Union and EFTA countries (Switzerland, Iceland, and Norway) as well as the United Kingdom during 2017/2019.

The study defines IPR (Intellectual Property Rights)-intensive industries in the EU economy (i.e., as those having an above-average ownershop of IPRs per employee, as compared with other IPR-using industries), which include manufacturing, technology, and business services.

There are 357 high IPR-intensive industries, 4 more than in 2019 for the previous study with two-thirds using IPR heavily and the report’s findings are clear:

• IPR-intensive industries directly account for 29.7% of all jobs in the European Union and up to 39.4% indirectly.
• More than 47% of EU GDP is generated in IPR-intensive industries, and most of the EU’s trade with the rest of the world.
• IPR-intensive industries account for 75% of intra-EU trade.
• Wages in IPR-intensive industries are 41% higher than in non-IPR-intensive industries.

Finally, the study found that the share of actors engaged in the development of climate change mitigation technologies and those related to the so-called “green” sectors has increased to 14% of European GDP.

So, are you now ready to activate your Intellectual Property Rights for your growth?

– Eléonore DAUPHANT, Industrial Property Attorney and Partner at Mark & Law

Source: EUIPO, IP Contribution, study accessible here.