CALL FOR APPLICATIONS: WIPO in collaboration with the State Patent Bureau of the Republic of Lithuania Intellectual Property Management Clinic (IPMC) for start-ups and SMEs from Lithuania, April – September 2026

Are you a startup or SME based in Lithuania with intellectual property at the core of your business?

Do you want to build a smarter IP strategy that protects your innovations, strengthens your competitive position, and accelerates your path to investment and growth?

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), in partnership with the State Patent Bureau of the Republic of Lithuania (SPB), is proud to launch the Intellectual Property Management Clinic (IPMC) – a free, expert-led capacity-building program designed specifically for IP-intensive startups and SMEs in Lithuania.

This clinic takes your business to the next step: providing hands-on, personalized guidance to help your company use the IP system strategically and effectively in support of innovation and entrepreneurial growth.

What is the IP Management Clinic?

The IP Management Clinic is a capacity-building program that delivers individualized, expert-guided support to selected companies based on their specific business needs and innovation profiles.

The program focuses on helping participating companies to:

Understand the strategic role of IP in building and sustaining a competitive advantage

Identify and protect their intellectual assets in both physical and digital environments

Use IP to support commercialization, partnerships, and business growth

What selected companies will receive (free of charge)

Over the course of six months, selected companies will benefit from:

Three one-on-one mentoring sessions with leading IP experts

Five online workshops covering key business and IP topics, including:

IP Strategy Fundamentals for Startups

Strategic IP Protection in Europe

IP Commercialization and Licensing Models

IP Valuation and Investment Readiness

Global IP Portfolio Management and Scaling

Networking opportunities with other companies participating in the clinic

All mentoring sessions and workshops are fully funded by the program.

Who can apply?

This call is open to startups and SMEs from all sectors operating in Lithuania.

To be eligible, applicant companies must:

Be a startup or SME based in Lithuania

Have intellectual property at the core of their business (i.e., be IP-intensive)

Hold or be in the process of securing at least one intellectual property right (such as a patent, utility model, trademark, industrial design, copyright, or trade secret)

Have a team of at least two people

Program timeline

Application deadline: 20 April 2026

Selection: 20 companies will be selected by the organizers

Program launch: April 23, 2026

Program duration: Six months (April to September 2026)

Selected companies are expected to actively participate in the program activities, including:

Attending online workshops and mentoring sessions

Sharing nonconfidential information about their business, technology, and IP

Providing feedback after the completion of the program

The estimated time commitment is 10–15 hours in total over four months.

How to apply

Interested companies must complete the application form by 20 April 2026: https://surveys.wipo.int/s3/Application-Form-2026-WIPO-State-Patent-Bureau-of-the-Republic-of-Lithuania-2026-Intellectual-Property-Management-Clinic-for-IP-intensive-start-ups-and-SMEs-in-Lithuania

To learn more about the program and access the application form, please visit:
https://www.wipo.int/en/web/business/ip-management-clinic

Deadline for Applications: 2026-04-20