The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)’s IP for Business Division, the Israel Patent Office (ILPO) and the Patent Office of the Republic of Poland (UPRP) offer an Intellectual Property Management Clinic (IPMC) for SMEs in the med-tech industry. This Clinic puts a special focus on empowering med-tech entrepreneurs with the knowledge and tools to develop effective IP strategies that support long-term and sustainable growth.
The med-tech industry plays a crucial role in modern healthcare by driving advancements that improve patient outcomes, enhance diagnostic accuracy, and increase the efficiency of care delivery. It is inherently innovation-driven, combining cutting-edge engineering, digital technologies, and life sciences to develop solutions ranging from wearable monitoring devices to robotic surgical systems and AI-powered diagnostics.
These innovations often require significant investment in R&D, and therefore IP is essential for companies in this sector. Ultimately, IP not only incentivizes innovation but also ensures that companies can sustainably bring transformative medical technologies to patients worldwide. Going beyond that, IP is also a strategic driver of growth because it enables licensing opportunities, allowing businesses to scale, diversify revenue streams, and enter new markets. In today’s world, IP ensures that your technology translates into commercial success.
Why participate?
Selected companies will gain access to a free, high-value program tailored to support the development of strong IP strategies in the med-tech sector. Spanning four months, the IPMC provides targeted guidance based on each participant’s unique business needs, as identified during the application process.
Participants will benefit from expert-led mentoring and training designed to help them:
- Understand the value and strategic role of IP in building a competitive edge;
- Protect their IP assets across both physical and digital environments;
- Leverage IP to unlock business growth opportunities.
What you can expect:
Over the course of four months, selected companies will engage in the following activities:
- Three personalized, one-on-one mentoring sessions with leading IP experts specializing in the med-tech industry (fully funded by the Clinic).
- Five online workshops covering a range of business- and IP-related topics designed to correspond to the specific needs of participating companies, including:
- IP Fundamentals & Protection Strategy for Med-tech
- Patent Strategy & Portfolio Management
- IP in R&D Collaborations; Technology Transfer
- Digital Health & AI
- Investor engagement and pitching
- Peer-to-peer networking opportunities among participating companies in the Clinic.
Who can apply?
To participate, companies must meet the following criteria:
- Be a start-up or an SME based in Israel or Poland;
- Operate in the med-tech or biotech industries;
- Own a product or service that is commercialized and either protected by at least one IP right or the company has applied for at least one IP right;
- Have an entrepreneurial team (of at least two people) with a good command of English.
Deadline and schedule
To participate, applicants must complete the questionnaire by June 30, 2026.
WIPO, ILPO and UPRP will assess applications and select a limited number of companies.
The selection announcement and program launch will take place in June 2026.
The selected companies will be expected to actively participate in the program (join online mentoring sessions and workshops, provide non-confidential information on their product or technology and IP, provide feedback after the Clinic, with a time dedication estimated at 15 hours).
To learn more about this program to support SMEs, check out our webpage: IP Management Clinics.