Intellectual property (IP)

Through the Innovate UK Business Growth service, delivered by Businesses West in the South West, we help businesses to identify and protect IP, both at home and abroad. Our IP specialists help businesses to: 

• Identify the different types of IP they may own: patents, trade marks, design rights, copyright, NDAs, etc.
• Use patent, trade mark and design registration search tools
• Develop business processes to capture and manage your IP
• Create protection strategies in the UK and abroad
• Turn IP into a vehicle for growth
• Provide connections to further professional services and advice.

In addition, Innovate UK’s IP Audit scheme can provide businesses with the resources to exploit their innovation fully. 

The purpose of IP Audit is to provide an eligible business with high-quality IP advice, which identifies IP-related opportunities and risks associated with their business and provides recommendations for their exploitation and management and, where appropriate, further investigation.

Fixit Medical 
Poole‑based Fixit Medical worked with Innovate UK Business Growth to build a stronger intellectual property foundation, beginning with an IP Audit. This led to clearer IP positioning, Freedom to Operate analysis and IP insurance - key steps supporting their regulatory pathway and market readiness.

 “Safeguarding intellectual property is critical in the MedTech sector. The IP Audit outlined our position and provided a clear path to strengthen it.” – Peter Solomon, Head of Operations, Fixit Medical

Time Machine Designs 
Bristol‑based Time Machine Designs used the IP Audit to map, protect and strengthen its growing portfolio of digital assets, safeguarding a valuable trade secret and enabling new commercial opportunities with major heritage organisations.

“The support from Innovate UK Business Growth has been instrumental in strengthening our IP protection, developing a structured funding roadmap, refining our messaging and securing new client engagements.” – Richard Blows, Founder, Time Machine Designs

Latent Drive 
Dorset‑based Latent Drive strengthened the commercial protection of its breakthrough hydrogen technology through the IP Advance programme, including a fully funded IP Audit and follow‑on IP Access grant. This support helped the company secure its first UK patent, with further filings progressing across the US, Canada, Europe, Hong Kong and India.