24 | 04 | 2026

Competition for support in the protection and management of intellectual property for innovations in sports

State Intellectual Property Office launches this competition on the occasion of 35th anniversary of its establishment and celebration of the World Intellectual Property Day, dedicated in 2026 to innovations in the field of sports under the global motto: “IP and Sports: Ready, Set, Innovate”.

In any field of sports, inventors work behind the scenes of the sport competitions to push the boundaries of sports achievements, enhance the audience experience and bring sporting events into every home. 

This competition aims to encourage scientists, experts and innovators in various technical fields to develop innovations in the field of sports, and in particular to contribute to raising awareness of the importance of intellectual property and to encourage the inclusion of intellectual property protection and management in business plans intended for the development of new - innovative products on the market.

Eligible to compete for the awards are higher education and scientific research institutions and their employees or students, small and medium-sized enterprises, start-ups, and individual innovators or creative creators as natural persons. 

In order to achieve a timely and purposeful benefit from the protection of intellectual property during the development and marketing of new sports products and services on the market, it is important to harmonise the strategy of protection and management of intellectual property with the business strategy, and to give priority to those types of protection and territories (markets) where intellectual property rights will be protected in a way that will enable easier and faster achievement of business goals. A designed strategy for the protection and management of intellectual property as part of a business plan in the development and commercialisation of sports innovations is therefore a useful basis for decision-making and the rational use of resources in the initiation of the protection of one's own innovative and creative achievements, the maintenance and implementation of protected rights in key territories, licensing, management of knowledge and confidential information.

The competition is open as from the World Intellectual Property Day, 26 April, 2026, until the World Sports Day, 25 May 2026.