IPHatch Open (Innovation) Competition

IPHatch® UK at City of Glasgow College

Open Innovation for Start-ups, Entrepreneurs and Global Impact

Scotland is building a world-class entrepreneurial economy—one that champions innovation, supports start-ups and drives sustainable growth across every sector. At City of Glasgow College, we are proud to support this vision by hosting IPHatch® UK, a pioneering open innovation competition designed to connect entrepreneurs with global technologies and opportunities.

What is IPHatch®?

IPHatch® is an international open innovation programme that links entrepreneurs and emerging start-ups with unused or underutilised patents from multinational corporations. It enables innovators to transform existing intellectual property into new products, services and scalable businesses.

IPHatch® is owned and operated by Piece Future—an Asia-headquartered, innovation-driven intellectual property (IP) investment bank. Piece Future works globally with corporations, institutions, SMEs and start-ups, offering expertise in IP investment advisory, asset management, capital advisory and innovation platforms.

IPHatch® UK: A First for Innovation in Scotland

Hosted by City of Glasgow College in partnership with Scottish Institute of Innovation & Knowledge Exchange, this is the first programme of its kind in the UK. It brings together global corporations, cutting-edge technologies and ambitious entrepreneurs to accelerate innovation and business growth.

Programme Overview

The IPHatch® programme typically runs over three months and includes four key stages:

  • Thematic seminars on international market expansion, sustainability and IP education
  • Interactive workshops led by industry experts
  • Access to global networks and innovation ecosystems
  • The IPHatchathon®—an intensive innovation sprint to develop business ideas

Why Take Part in IPHatch®?

This unique open innovation model is designed to:

  • Support start-ups in leveraging open innovation to accelerate growth
  • Provide access to sustainable technologies from multinational corporations
  • Connect entrepreneurs with global resources, expertise and networks
  • Drive sustainable solutions that deliver economic, environmental and social impact
  • Unlock commercial potential in high-growth sectors

Key Sectors

Participants can explore opportunities across a range of innovative and high-demand industries, including:

  • Digital Healthcare
  • Financial Technology (FinTech)
  • Sustainable Energy
  • Data Analytics
  • Smart Logistics
  • Artificial Intelligence (AI), Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR)

Access to Global Patents

The IPHatch® challenge offers participants exclusive access to patents from globally recognised multinational organisations—enabling entrepreneurs to commercialise proven technologies and bring new ideas to market faster.

Get Involved

If you are an entrepreneur, innovator or early-stage start-up looking to scale your ideas, IPHatch® UK offers a unique opportunity to access intellectual property, global expertise and business support.

Join us at City of Glasgow College and be part of Scotland’s growing innovation ecosystem.

News

Further Information