IP-rich industries contribute nearly half of EU GDP and create one in three jobs, new report says

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A new joint study from the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and the European Patent Office (EPO) found that industry sectors with above-average ownership of IP rights per employee generate €7.7 trillion of the EU’s GDP.

IP and Innovation in European Sectors examined 361 IP rights-intensive industries in the 2021-2023 period. The researchers looked at six types of intellectual property rights – trade marks, designs, patents, copyright, geographical indications, and plant variety rights – and the results showed a number of major benefits from IP rights ownership.

Higher salaries, trade and investment

Workers in IPR-intensive industries earn higher wages than those in other sectors, with an average wage premium of 40.9%.

IPR-intensive industries also play a dominant role in EU trade, accounting for 76.4% of imports and 78.3% of exports, generating a trade surplus of €107.5 billion over the 2021-2023 period.

For the first time, the study examines the links between IPR intensity and access to venture capital and private equity, showing that IPR-intensive startups attracted over 88% of total funding (€70.7 billion). These findings underline the role of intellectual property in supporting innovation and economic growth.

This 2026 edition of the study updates the results of the previous one published in 2022, and reflect the growing contribution of IPR-intensive industries to EU GDP and employment over time.

Analysed by type of IP rights held, trade mark-intensive industries account for the largest share (39.1%), followed by patent-intensive industries (18.4%) and design-intensive industries (16.1%). This may reflect the fact that most companies will have trade marks; fewer have patents and registered design rights.

Sectors investing more heavily in IP rights include pharmaceutical manufacturing, which is predominantly patent-intensive; consumer electronics and ICT industries, which rely on a combination of patents, trade marks, designs and copyright; and brand-driven sectors such as food and beverage production and fashion and luxury goods, which are primarily trade-mark and design-intensive.

The study also highlights that IPR-intensive industries are a major driver of cross-border job creation in the EU. Over 7.2 million jobs in IPR intensive sectors across the EU are created by companies operating in a Member State other than their home country, reflecting the strong economic integration enabled by IP-intensive industries.

Other studies published jointly by the EUIPO and the EPO have also highlighted the importance of IPRs in promoting growth and employment at company level, particularly among small and medium-sized enterprises, and in facilitating and securing financing for innovative startups.