ESSE 4: Secure Your Position as the World’s Best (ENG)
Masterclass: Secure Your Position as the World’s Best
What will your company become world-leading in, and how do you secure control over the assets that create lasting competitive advantage?
The strategic use of patents and intellectual property rights (IPR) is often critical for attracting investment, securing partnerships, and building an international market position, particularly in industries characterized by long development cycles, research-driven innovation, and capital-intensive growth.
In this masterclass, you will learn how to define your technological core, identify and assess your intellectual assets, and strategically use patents, trademarks, and trade secrets to strengthen competitiveness and long-term profitability.
The goal is to help your company build durable competitive advantages, strengthen market positioning, and create the foundation for sustainable international growth.
What you will learn
How to define and protect your company’s technological core
How to identify and evaluate your most valuable intellectual assets
How patents, trademarks, and trade secrets can support growth and market positioning
How to build a defensible competitive moat around technology, data, and know-how
Common pitfalls related to ownership, documentation, and Freedom to Operate (FTO)
How strategic IP management impacts fundraising, partnerships, and scaling
This masterclass is especially relevant for companies developing research-based technology, AI, software, deeptech, or other high-innovation solutions with international potential.
Masterclass Leader
Haakon Thue Lie
IP Management Consultant, Dehns
Haakon holds a PhD in Industrial Economics and Technology Management, specializing in open innovation and trade secrets. His work focuses on how companies can create competitive advantage and increase profitability through innovation and strategic IP management.
He is also an Associate Professor at the Department of Industrial Economics and Technology Management (INDØK) at NTNU.
Agenda
09:00: Welcome & Participant Introductions
09:15: Session by Dehns
10:00: Break
10:30: Practical work session
11:30: Presentations & Group Discussion
12:00: Lunch
13:00: Session by Dehns
13:45: Break
14:00: Practical work session
14:45: Presentations
15:15: Wrap-up
About ESSE
This masterclass is part of ESSE, a growth program for companies working toward a cleaner and more sustainable world.
ESSE consists of 10 independent full-day masterclasses held in Ås, Norway, combining leading academic and industry expertise, practical work sessions, and direct feedback. The program is designed to accelerate critical learning, uncover critical pitfalls earlier, and help companies move faster.
Participants include both early-stage and experienced innovators, founders, and business developers.
For a full overview of the ESSE growth program and upcoming masterclasses, see here.
If you work for one of our partner organizations or are a student at NMBU, please contact us to receive your dedicated access code.
Contact
Vilde Wettergreen
[email protected]
+47 974 70 891