Sweden is one of the world’s most innovative countries and has been ranked among the top three innovation nations by the UN’s intellectual property organization WIPO for the seventeenth year in a row.
Despite this, many companies wait too long to protect their intellectual property (IP) – a risk that, in the worst case, can lead to innovations being copied, exploited, or losing their commercial value before they are even launched.
Although awareness of IP has increased over the past decade, surveys show that a large proportion of Swedes still do not know what intellectual property is. The combination of a high level of innovation and low IP awareness makes Swedish companies vulnerable to infringement and loss of value.
The Confederation of Swedish Enterprise recently published a report entitled “National intellectual property strategies – A comparison of strategic initiatives around the world”. The report shows how countries such as Finland, South Korea, Singapore, and Brazil have taken a comprehensive approach to intellectual property rights in order to strengthen innovation, competitiveness, and growth. According to the report’s conclusions, Sweden risks falling behind in the global innovation race unless intellectual property rights are given clearer political support and strategic priority.
Some initiatives have already been taken at EU level, including coordinated action plans and financial support for small and medium-sized enterprises through the EUIPO’s SME Fund. In Sweden, there is also national and regional support, for example through Vinnova, Almi, science parks, incubators, and innovation offices.
In 2025, a working group was also set up within the Government Offices to coordinate intellectual property issues with the aim of making it easier for Swedish actors to protect and commercialize their IP—and to further raise the level of knowledge.
The direction is positive, but it is high time for Sweden to step up its efforts to avoid falling behind. And it is high time for you as an entrepreneur to invest more in your IP.
IP is a strategic resource, not just a legal issue
IP now accounts for an increasing share of a company’s value, but is still too often treated as a legal formality at the end of the development process – or not at all. Our experience shows that the most successful companies regard IP as an integral part of their business strategy from day one. A well-thought-out IP strategy strengthens a company’s competitiveness and increases its attractiveness to investors.
Building an effective IP strategy requires insight, prioritization, and a long-term perspective. At Gulliksson, we have been helping companies secure their most important assets for 50 years. Contact us to discuss how you can strengthen your IP protection and the value of your company.
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