Europe Looks to IVS for IP-Backed Finance: Why Intangibles Are a Valuation Story
The European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) has published IP-Backed Finance in Europe: State of Play and Future Perspectives — a 130-page study examining how intellectual property can be used more effectively as a basis for accessing finance across European markets. Among its central policy recommendations is a direct call for a European IVS-aligned IP valuation architecture, built on common principles consistent with international standards. See the IVSC’s announcement, the executive summary and the full report.
Why valuation is the bottleneck
Europe’s most valuable companies are increasingly intangible-rich: brands, software, patents, data. Yet lenders have historically struggled to accept IP as collateral, in large part because credible, comparable valuation of intangibles is hard. Common standards are how that changes — when a lender in one member state can trust that an IP valuation prepared in another rests on the same principles, capital can move.
Who should pay attention
Valuation professionals working with intangibles
Banks, credit funds and fintech lenders
IP-rich SMEs and scale-ups
Policymakers and IP offices
The standards behind the story
IVS already provides the framework the report points to: the General Standards govern the valuation process end to end, and IVS 210 Intangible Assets addresses the specific challenges of valuing IP — from identifying the asset and selecting a basis of value to choosing approaches and documenting judgements. The standards are available from the IVSC. For professionals positioning themselves in this growing field, structured IVS knowledge is the foundation.
Build your understanding of IVS
Understanding IVS: The Foundations of Global Valuation Practice is the IVSC’s official online course — 16 self-paced modules covering every chapter of the latest IVS, with insights from the board members who develop the standards. Approximately 6–8 hours, with a verifiable certificate of completion. Group rates available.
Register nowMember of a professional body? If your organisation is an IVSC member, check with them directly — Affiliate Partners can offer their members a discounted enrolment rate via their own registration link.
