Tag: intellectual property

M Squared tops the IP League Table again as record number of companies enter the IP100

Author
Angus Dent
Date

M Squared tops the IP League Table again as record number of companies enter the IP100.

M Squared, a fast growing Glasgow-based photonics technology business has been announced as the winner of the 2018 IP League Table, seeing off stiff-competition from entrants from all over the UK.

The accolade is announced today (April 26, 2018) to coincide with World Intellectual Property Day, which this year celebrates “Powering change: Women in innovation and creativity”.

The IP League Table ranks companies based on the effectiveness and robustness of their IP assets, and shines the spotlight on IP-rich companies across the UK. A record number of companies – up nearly 50% on last year – entered the rankings.

Entrants benefit from access to the IP100 Club, an exclusive network of IP-rich companies who lead the way in promoting a culture of innovation and IP creation within the UK.

The IP100 entrants can learn a great deal about a variety of IP-related matters including: international IP strategies for companies growing in new territories, maximising the exit value of an IP-rich company, filing software patents, preparing an IP-rich company for investor due diligence and developing an IP strategy.

Furthermore, the IP100 gives entrants greater access to finance which is reflected in them collectively raising more than £60 million in funding over the course of the last 12 months.

Stephen Robertson, director and founder of Metis Partners, said, “This has been a remarkable year with an ever-increasing cohort of smart, dynamic and innovative SMEs. Entrants have ranged from micro-businesses to £50 million AIM-listed companies. The profile of the IP100 rankings has grown significantly through strategic alliances with top level partners including the London Stock Exchange Group and its ELITE programme.

“We will continue to run our hugely successful IP100 Club events, which this year have attracted almost 500 individuals to events in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Birmingham and London.”

M Squared, whose world-leading photonics technology underpins the work of Nobel laureates and Russell Group universities, ranked first overall and scored No.1 in the Brands category. It also placed in the top six in Patents, Critical Databases, Software and Trade Secrets. Its pioneering R&D work impacts on sectors including healthcare, food and drink, security and defence.

Stephen Robertson added: “It is great to see the IP100 entrant pool grow year on year, and we were pleased to hit the 150th entrant earlier this year.

“Our target for 2018 is to reach 250 fast growing IP-rich companies and we are confident the continued success of our entrants combined with our internationalisation plans and our inaugural IP100 Awards dinner, will drive us on towards that target.”

For further information, please contact: Stephen Robertson, Metis Partners, 33 Lynedoch Street, Glasgow, G3 6AA. Tel: 0141 353 3011.
E: stephen@metispartners.com
T: 0141 353 3011.
W: www.metispartners.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/metispartners
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/524033?trk=tyah&trkInfo
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Metis-Partners/1568740406788772

Deadline approaching for entry to IP100

Author
Angus Dent
Date

IP-rich companies have until 23 March 2018 to join the IP100 and be featured in the initial 2018 rankings and all-important IP100 magazine. This is an opportunity to join successful IP100 companies, like M Squared and P2i, in showcasing the investment you have made in IP and successfully leveraging IP to secure finance, investment and support expansion.

The IP100 publishes a league table, which profiles and ranks IP-rich companies that have significantly invested in their IP in the form of IP creation, IP management policies, R&D activities and IP commercialisation. The IP100 ranking is based upon the assessment of five IP asset classes – Brand & Reputation, Patents, Critical Databases, Software, and Trade Secrets. Top ranking IP100 companies from the 2017 league table were successful in raising finance and securing investment:
• M Squared, specialists in the design and manufacturing of lasers and photonics technology, were ranked number one overall in 2017 IP100 league table and raised £1.65 million of investment from Business Growth Fund.
• P2i, ranked third overall and first in the patent asset class in 2017 IP100 league table, secured a £10 million investment deal with Clydesdale and Yorkshire Bank, to further its expansion in the Far East.
• Sphere Fluidics, ranked third overall in 2017 IP100 league table secured a £1 million grant to develop an innovative desktop genome editing system.

Stephen Robertson, founder of the IP100 said, “Managing IP and recognising it as a critical business asset is increasingly common amongst SMEs. Both lenders and investors recognise the significance of IP in underpinning a robust and scalable business model, as was evident from the successful fundraisings of our IP100 companies including P2i, M Squared, Sphere Fluidics and many more”.

Graeme Malcolm, CEO at M Squared commented, “IP100 has created a great measuring stick for IP-intensive businesses. Companies and investors aspire to invest in IP-rich high growth companies but there has been no external measure of this, until IP100. As a deep science business, being No 1 on the IP100 in 2017 allowed M Squared to demonstrate our position within the UK Innovation ecosystem and gives recognition of the scale and strategic richness of our IP creation and commercialisation activities”.

The IP100 is expanding and is forecasting 250 entrants by the end of 2018. Stephen Robertson said, “We are eagerly anticipating the next wave of entrants. By entering the IP100, businesses are sending out a clear message to lenders, investors, partners and potential acquirers that they are successfully commercialising their IP to maximise financial returns and protect or expand market share. The market is now recognising the critical role that key IP assets play in securing competitive advantage”.

The IP100 continues to be backed by important sponsors; Clydesdale and Yorkshire Bank, for the third consecutive year, are now joined by peer-to-peer lending firm, ArchOver, and patent attorneys, Haseltine Lake. A high-profile IP100 Awards Dinner will be hosted in 2018 to celebrate the achievements of the IP100 entrants.