PONS IP, a global consulting firm specialising in intellectual property services, has announced the launch, together with the Community of Madrid (CM), of Scale Lab, an accompaniment programme aimed at promoting the growth and competitiveness of the more than 2,500 technology startups identified in the region, thus creating an environment conducive to scaling up their business projects thanks to access to knowledge, tools and resources in the field of intellectual property.
With this launch, financed by the CM with European funds, PONS IP becomes the first intellectual property legal services consulting firm to be recognised as a Technological Innovation Liaison Entity by the Community of Madrid. PONS IP, in partnership with the Fundación PONS, will therefore act as an intermediary between research centres and companies, promoting collaboration and the exchange of knowledge to boost regional economic development with the aim of strengthening the innovation ecosystem and improving the competitiveness of companies in Madrid.
Market access will also be a priority for the Scale Lab project. The team of professionals dedicated to the project will develop strategies for effective commercialisation, helping companies to position their products in B2B markets and facilitating the adoption of new technologies.
Currently, as pointed out by César Juan Benayas, head of the Liaison Bodies at the Madrid Regional Ministry of Education, Science and Universities, “Scale Lab sees the light of day thanks to the line of aid to innovation liaison entities as part of a consolidated programme within the Madrid Regional Government’s Strategic Subsidy Plan. The current call will distribute more than 4 million Euros over three years to the 16 projects funded to boost the ecosystem, where they will offer among their activities an extensive range of services that SMEs and startups can already benefit from, such as those presented by the PONS IP Scale Lab project”.
Ambitious 2025-2028 action plan
With the support of the Fundación PONS, the consulting firm will develop a wide range of activities over the next three years focused on three fundamental areas: Scale Advisory, Scale Academy and Scale Events. This new “intellectual property portal” that Scale Lab represents will provide comprehensive support combining Intellectual Property advice with access to sources of funding and commercialisation strategies for innovations, guiding companies towards expansion into new markets.
Specifically, and within the framework of Scale Advisory, PONS IP will provide comprehensive advisory services in various critical aspects, including diagnostics and guidance on the protection of innovations through the design of intellectual property strategies, but also support and advice on financial matters, facilitating access to funding and preparation for investment rounds, minimising risks and improving survival prospects. Complementing this advice, Scale Academy will focus on continuous training for companies. Through free courses, PONS IP will provide SMEs with key tools to understand and manage their intellectual property, as well as specific strategies for software protection and participation in European projects.
Finally, the Scale Events programme will hold forums and workshops in collaboration with Fundación PONS, focusing on providing personalised mentoring and networking opportunities. These events will address topics such as trends in funding and the integration of applied technologies that can transform the business management of SMEs.
As a Scale Lab collaborator, together with Fundación PONS, the intellectual property consulting firm will have the support of recognised entities in the field of innovation and startup ecosystems such as Madrid Innovation Driven Ecosystem (MIDE), the Madrid+d Knowledge Foundation, FEDIT, Space Startup, ESIC, ElCampus360, Madrid Business Forum and Madrid Network, among others, to promote the project and reach as many growth-stage companies as possible in the Community of Madrid.
