Intellectual Property's growing role in the Irish economy

For many global companies, Ireland is a perfect entry point to the EU, with a strong infrastructure in place, including a workforce with IP experience 

Increasingly, the patents or intellectual property that a company has ownership of dictates its value.

Patent applications reached an all-time high last year according to the Intellectual Property Office of Ireland, which reported 193,442 EU applications designating Ireland. But this may falter soon if the Government continues to delay ratifying the EU’s new Unitary Patent Court.

The most frequent question raised by members of the HALO Business Angel network is; "have you any registered intellectual property?" And whereas HALO invests in early-stage companies across the island of Ireland, the same question is raised by large corporations when they are evaluating potential target competitors to buy. Increasingly the patents or intellectual property that a company has ownership of, dictates its value.