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Intangible Assets: The Engine of Business Growth

How can intangible assets — IP, data, software, know-how, design and collaborative innovation — be turned into real business value and growth? Rather than focusing on IP as a purely legal topic, the event takes a business and strategic perspective. The aim is to explore the full journey from research and technology creation to investment, scaling and commercialisation.

The programme connects research, intellectual property, investment, entrepreneurship, technology transfer, collaboration and design, highlighting how intangible assets can support competitive advantage and sustainable growth.

The conference is organised by EIS, the Estonian Patent Office, and the Estonian universities’ technology and knowledge transfer network.

Registration is open until 30 September 2026.

Date
08. October 2026, 08:45
Language
English
Location
Tallinn Business Incubator
Cost
Free
Status
Registration open

Conference programme

  • How is value created from science and technology?
  • What investors really look for in IP and intangible assets?
  • How can universities and companies build commercially viable ventures?
  • Ownership, protection, licensing and strategic value.
  • Creating value while managing IP and ownership.
  • How can design strengthen differentiation and commercial success?

Morning: From science to investment – What makes a company investable?

From creating value out of research to building a scalable business, the morning explores what investors look for in technology companies and spin-offs — and why a clear IP strategy, ownership structure and IP readiness are becoming an essential part of investment readiness.

08:45–09:15 Registration & morning coffee

09:15–09:35 Opening remarks by organisers

09:35–09:45 Transition

09:45–10:15 Keynote: From Science to Business – How Value Is Created?
A scientific discovery does not automatically create business value. What decisions are needed to turn research, technology and intellectual property into competitive advantage and a scalable business?

10:15–10:45 0 → Scale-up: When Did IP Become a Business Issue?
Speaker: Graham Bell in conversation with a technology entrepreneur. 

10:45–11:00 Coffee break

11:00–11:30 Deep Dive: Due Diligence (including IP!) ) – What Investors Really Look For in Start-ups?
Speaker: Kevin Chavanne – Due diligence and investment readiness, with an IP angle included 

11:35–12:30 Panel: From Research to Investment – IP Readiness and Investor Expectations for Spin-offs
Moderator: Sander Õun
Panellists: Mart Maasik, Florian Kirschenhofer, company and university representatives
EstVCA working group insights and international perspective on investor expectations and attractive terms for university spin-offs.

12:30–13:30 Lunch & networking

Afternoon: Beyond IP – Unlocking the Strategic Value of Intangible Assets 

The afternoon explores new dimensions of intangible assets — from data, software and collaborative innovation to design and IP — and how companies can integrate them into their business strategy, growth and commercialisation. 

13:30–14:15 Data, Software and Algorithms as Intangible Assets
Speaker: Attorney-at-law Priit Lätt
Data vs. databases vs. algorithms vs. software – what can be protected? Ownership of data and AI-generated outputs. Licensing models for software, data and AI. IP management for deep tech companies. Trade secrets vs. patents vs. copyright. Open-source software: opportunities and legal risks. AI development and data governance.

14:15–14:30 Coffee break

14:30–15:45 Academia–Industry Collaboration Models for Innovation
Speaker: Ia Modin (SWE) – Co-development and joint innovation projects. University–industry collaboration models. Research and innovation consortia. Ownership of IP in collaborative R&D. Technology transfer and licensing.

15:45–16:00 Coffee break

16:00–16:45 Deep Tech Beyond Technology: The Strategic Value of Design
Speaker: Adrián Larripa (ESP) – Real-world examples from advanced industrial and technological products, showing how design can contribute to differentiation, IP value and commercial success. 

16:45–17:30 Networking

 

Adrián Larripa is an industrial designer, founder and CEO of the industrial design and product strategy consultancy bigD, co-founder of the PACO Design Collaborative, and Associate Professor at the University of Navarra. With an international career in design engineering and product development, including key roles in Italy and the UK, his work focuses on the intersection of human-centered research, industrial design, and hardware manufacturing. Over the past decade, he has led the design and development of complex industrial machinery and advanced hardware, earning prestigious awards such as the Red Dot Award, iF Design Award, German Design Award, and Good Design Award. He is currently pursuing doctoral research on the integration of Artificial Intelligence into industrial design workflows.