Industries that rely heavily on intellectual property rights drive substantial employment, with about 81 million jobs linked to IP-intensive activities across the EU. This is according to a study by the EUIPO, the Alicante-based European Union Intellectual Property Office, and the European Patent Office. The report emphasizes how firms that register trademarks and protect innovations in the European Community contribute to a large share of employment, nearly four out of every ten jobs in the region. The study also highlights a strong GDP impact, with IP-intensive sectors contributing 47.1 billion euros in gross domestic product within the EU economy and representing a significant portion of value added across member states.
Moreover, the report notes that around 80 percent of both imports and exports involve IP-intensive industries, which together generate a trade surplus of approximately 224 billion euros and help sustain a favourable trade balance between the EU and the rest of the world. The executive summary frames this as evidence that strengthening the intellectual property ecosystem supports Europe’s economic recovery and ecological transition, a view echoed by Christian Archambeau, the executive director of EUIPO. (Source: EUIPO report 2022).
Data from the 2022 edition show a record-high contribution of IP-intensive industries to the EU economy across three key dimensions: job creation, GDP, and exports of goods and services, reinforcing the sector’s pivotal role since the years 2008 to 2010. The broader impact includes both direct employment and significant indirect job creation linked to supply chains and demand for IP-backed products.
Exterior views of the EUIPO complex in Alicante illustrate the scale of the agency’s footprint within the EU’s intellectual property system. The image caption highlights the physical hub of IP administration that underpins industrial innovation and cross-border commerce.
These sectors employ more than 61 million people within the EU and indirectly create about 20 million additional jobs due to the demand generated by IP-backed products and services. Wages in IP-intensive industries tend to be considerably higher than in many other sectors, with a noticeable earnings premium that underscores the value of creative and innovative activity.
The study also examines emerging sectors, including climate-change mitigation technologies and green branding. These areas are increasingly tied to energy and transportation, with patent-intensive activities focused on environmental solutions representing a meaningful share of EU GDP, employment, and foreign trade activity. One in ten European patent applications in the EU concerns technologies aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and green brand registrations by EU-based companies account for a comparable portion of total applications filed in 2021. (Source: EUIPO report 2022).
Aiju and EUIPO create an educational tool to show kids the dangers of fake toys
The study links IP-intensive industries to the modern single market, where this pillar accounts for more than 75 percent of intra-EU trade. It also serves as a major driver of cross-border job creation, with roughly seven million positions supported by companies in member states other than where they operate. In several countries, the share of employment in these sectors surpasses 30 percent, illustrating the widespread dependence on IP-driven activity.
Countries such as Germany, France, Italy, and the Netherlands lead in IP rights creation, while nations like the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Estonia derive substantial benefits from the division of labor within labor-intensive segments. The message is clear: intellectual property frameworks empower growth, resilience, and cross-border collaboration across the European economy.