Overview

This article analyses the legal positioning of AI as a technological tool from different perspectives, including legislative cohesion, substantive tort rules, intellectual property adjudication logic, and procedural evidentiary mechanism among others.

Trademark registration in China follows the first-to-file principle. In this article, Ms Aglaya Salvatierra, China IP SME Helpdesk external expert from LexOrient, explains what it means for EU SMEs wanting to internationalise to the China market.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly supporting technology transfer offices (TTOs) with tasks ranging from contract reviews and patent searches to market research and innovation scouting. While automation can improve efficiency, human expertise remains essential for building relationships, supporting researchers and navigating commercialisation, pointing towards a future where AI complements and strengthens the strategic role of TTO professionals.

Evropska komisija pokreće prvo do sadNagrade za Evropske prijestonice male maloprodajne trgovine 2026

Европска комисија покреће први циклус Награда за Европске престонице малопродаје

Evropska komisija pokreće prve nagrade Evropskih prijestolnica maloprodaje

The European Commission launched the final Capacity Building Call under the Interregional Innovation Investments (I3) Instrument – Strand 2b. Applications will close on 19 March 2026.

The topic enables authorities and innovation actors from Member States, Associated Countries, and their regions to develop joint multi annual programmes and action plans. The aim is to strengthen innovation ecosystems, improve their interconnection, and align them with EU priorities under the New European Innovation Agenda, addressing challenges at all governance levels.

The action is intended to create connected regional innovation valleys across the European Union (EU), involving regions with lower innovation performances, by building on strategic areas of regional strength and specialisation (defined in their smart specialisation strategies),

The Annual IP Helpdesk Stakeholder Conference 2026, hosted this year by the European Union intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), will bring together key actors from Europe’s IP and innovation support landscape to exchange perspectives on strengthening support for European SMEs. The programme will explore the wide range of European, national and international tools and services available throughout the innovation journey, from IP protection and business development to exploitation, financing, investment readiness and internationalisation. The conference will also provide an opportunity to exchange experiences, strengthen partnerships and discuss future priorities for SME support.

The 2026 Annual IP Helpdesk Stakeholder Conference, hosted by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), will bring together representatives from the European IP and innovation support landscape to explore how the IP Helpdesk programme can strengthen support for EU SMEs. The event will offer a broad perspective on the SME support journey, from early guidance and business development to exploitation, investment readiness and internationalisation, as well as other relevant discussions. Click on the "more" button below for details and free registration!

Protecting Your IP and Data When Partnering with China

Five exceptional innovations that can make a big difference in the lives of the most vulnerable people around the world have won the EIC Horizon Prize on Affordable High-Tech for Humanitarian Aid. Meet the winners!

The city of Leuven has risen to the top for its excellent innovation concepts and bringing together stakeholders and citizens with the common purpose of innovating around complex challenges.

This year’s winners of the Women Innovators Prize are women who are pioneering game-changing innovations across a wide range of industries and helping to combat global challenges.

DigiCirc is looking for European SMEs/Start-ups that can use digital tools and apply cutting-edge solutions in the circular economy by addressing specific challenges in the domain of Blue Economy.

The Fund was presented during the session “Europe's new ‘Super Fund': the EIC Fund”, which gathered Commissioner Gabriel and five experts from the EIC Fund Board of Directors and Investment Committee, as well as from the EIB as advisor to the Fund. The Fund represents a great opportunity for private investors to invest alongside the Fund in highly innovative companies.

The EIC Accelerator is part of the European Innovation Council (EIC) pilot that supports top-class innovators, entrepreneurs, small companies and scientists with funding opportunities and acceleration services. Do not miss this year's final cut-off on 7 October!

In the occasion of the World IP Day 2023, we recently spoke with Catherine Heng Yee Huynh, a bi-cultural and enthusiastic Intellectual Property Law and Data Privacy lawyer based in Paris, France. She is the founding partner of the law firm CATHERINE HENG YEE HUYNH and has expertise in the protection of creations, especially in France, mainland China and Hong Kong. Catherine shared with us the challenges faced by women entrepreneurs in the IP domain, including the fact that women are still underrepresented in the field.

In an interview with top economic French newspaper 'Les Echos', EC vice-president Margrethe Vestager mentions the EIC as a possible model for the implementation of the European Sovereignty Fund.

We discussed with Mathilde Kraft, project coordinator of West MOPoCo and French National Coordinator of the WestMED Initiative, on the main results, lessons learnt and follow-up activities planned.

HealthChain helped nine digital health solutions reach real patients and healthcare providers, demonstrating how interregional collaboration can accelerate the adoption of healthcare innovation across Europe.

By integrating creative inputs into the design and production process, Label4Future helped companies rethink products, materials and processes, while generating valuable lessons for regional innovation policies and support programmes.

Discover how 3DoP helped bring additive manufacturing solutions closer to market, support 21 companies through demonstration activities and generate more than €42.5 million in follow-on investment across European regions.

The first Annual I3 Instrument Observatory Report is available for download on the I3 Support Facility website.

Insight article available for download on the I3 Support Facility website

Policy brief available for download on the I3 Support Facility website

Following the publication of the Communicating MSP guide, the EU MSP platform will organise an online workshop dedicated to the communication needs and priorities of MSP stakeholders. Take part to this preliminary survey to help us design this event and select the key topics you would like to discuss with MSP experts. To take part to the short survey click "more"

Targeted consultation on International Ocean Governance is launched! The consultation aims at assessing development needs and options for the Agenda in light of today’s challenges and opportunities to deliver ocean-related targets of Agenda 2030 and in particular the Sustainable Development Goal on Conservation and sustainable use of the oceans (SDG14) in support of the European Green Deal.

Would you like to give your opinion about the re-use of plastic waste? FiberEUse, a Horizon 2020-funded project, has recently launched the "FiberEUse Idea Manager" platform. The users can provide feedback on the design of solutions elaborated within the project, also grading different alternatives. The highest rated ideas will be manufactured as prototypes and showcased at the 2020 Milan Design week.