IP Services - Strategies, Freedom to Operate, Trade Secrets, and Patenting

At UNICO, we understand that intellectual property is a core part of deep tech commercialization. Strong IP positioning helps companies protect innovation, reduce market-entry risks, attract investors, and build defensible competitive advantage.

We provide IP services for deep tech companies, research-based ventures, spin-offs, start-ups, scale-ups, and EIC beneficiaries, covering IP strategy, Freedom to Operate, trade secrets, patenting strategy, and selected trademark assessments.

Eligible EIC beneficiaries can access these services with a 50% discount through the EIC Partnership framework.

Why are IP Services needed?

·      Protect core technological advantages before market entry.

·      Decide what should be patented, kept secret, licensed, published, or protected contractually.

·      Reduce the risk of infringing third-party patents or other IP rights.

·      Strengthen the company’s position before fundraising, partnerships, licensing, or commercialization.

·      Build a credible IP story for investors, grant providers, customers, and strategic partners.

·      Avoid costly mistakes such as premature disclosure, unclear ownership, weak filings, or insufficient know-how protection.

What do we offer?

IP Strategy

·      IP Portfolio Mapping: Identification of existing and potential IP assets, including patents, know-how, software, data, trade secrets, trademarks, and contracts.

·      Protection Strategy: Assessment of which assets should be protected through patents, trade secrets, copyright, trademarks, contracts, or combined mechanisms.

·      Commercial Alignment: Linking IP decisions to the business model, target markets, product roadmap, licensing potential, and fundraising strategy.

·      IP Risk and Gap Assessment: Identification of weaknesses such as unclear ownership, missing documentation, insufficient protection, or exposure to competitors.

Freedom to Operate

·      Orientation Workshop: Definition of the technology, target markets, jurisdictions, timelines, and key FTO questions.

·      Patent Landscape Review: Structured assessment of relevant patent activity, third-party rights, competitors, and patent families.

·      Red Flag Identification: Identification of potential IP conflicts and patents requiring further review in selected markets.

·      Strategic Options: Guidance on design-around, licensing, partnerships, market prioritization, or specialist legal review.

·      Roadmap Integration: Recommendations on integrating FTO checkpoints into the R&D and commercialization roadmap.

Where relevant, the service can include a focused trademark search in priority markets.

Trade Secrets and Know-How

·      Trade Secret Identification: Mapping of valuable know-how, processes, methods, algorithms, datasets, formulas, protocols, or manufacturing parameters.

·      Patent vs. Secrecy Assessment: Evaluation of whether assets should be patented, kept confidential, protected contractually, or managed through a hybrid approach.

·      Internal Protection Framework: Recommendations on confidentiality measures, access management, documentation, and information classification.

·      Collaboration Safeguards: Guidance on protecting know-how when working with investors, partners, universities, suppliers, or contractors.

Patenting Strategy

·      Patentability Orientation: Initial assessment of whether selected technical solutions may have patent potential.

·      Invention Harvesting: Structured sessions with founders, researchers, and technical teams to identify patentable inventions.

·      Filing Roadmap: Recommendations on what to file, when to file, and where to file based on commercial priorities.

·      Coordination with Patent Attorneys: Support in aligning formal legal work with business and commercialization strategy.

Why Choose UNICO for IP Services?

·      Deep Tech Expertise across CEE/SEE: We understand the IP challenges of research-based and technology-driven ventures.

·      Business-Oriented IP Approach: We connect IP decisions to commercialization, investment readiness, market entry, and partnerships.

·      Comprehensive Perspective: We assess patents, trade secrets, know-how, FTO, trademarks, ownership, competition, and market positioning.

·      Experienced Team: Our team combines technical, market, business, and IP-oriented expertise.

·      Independent & Objective: We provide unbiased assessments and practical recommendations.

·      Actionable Insights: We deliver outputs that support decisions on product development, fundraising, licensing, partnerships, and market entry.