Why your SME might need patents
In a series of blog posts, Marco Coolen gives an insight into his work as a Dutch and European patent attorney at AOMB.
Published on June 15, 2025
Marco, a patent attorney at AOMB since 2013, shares his expertise on IO+ about patents—how they work, why they matter, and when they lose their value.
“I don't need a patent, I don't have a high-tech company.”
I hear this regularly from SME entrepreneurs. Usually from companies that already have something patentable, but haven't realized it yet.
Because let's be honest: you don't have to design computer chips or build rockets to apply for a patent. Packaging, a mechanical component, or a smarter production process can also be a reasonable basis for protection.
Marco Coolen, photo © Bart van Overbeeke
When is something patentable?
The rules are actually very simple. An invention must:
✔️ Be new (not yet made public).
✔️ Work technically (i.e., have a practical effect).
✔️ Solve a problem (and not be evident to a fellow professional).
That may sound like something for the big high-tech guys. But it is precisely in SMEs that clever ideas are conceived every day that fit perfectly within these criteria. Think of:
- An improved combination that speeds up assembly.
- A packaging method that keeps products fresh for longer.
- A slight adjustment to a machine that doubles production capacity.
What can't you patent?
Of course, some things are excluded. The following things cannot be patented (unless you link them to a technical application):
✖️ Discoveries and laws of nature
✖️ Scientific theories
✖️ Purely mathematical methods
✖️ Artistic creations (such as paintings or pieces of music)
✖️ Rules of games and business models
✖️ Software code in itself
✖️ How you present information
However, anything else that demonstrably works technically can be patentable.
The World of Patents
Dutch and European patent attorney Marco Coolen (AOMB) provides us with a better understanding of the world of patents. How do they work, why are they important, but also: when do they lose their usefulness?
View The World of Patents SeriesSmall inventions, big impact
In practice, it often comes down to minor improvements with significant consequences. A simple discovery that makes your product:
✔️ Cheaper
✔️ Faster to produce
✔️ More sustainable or user-friendly
✔️ Makes it easier to scale
It is precisely these kinds of inventions that you do not want to give away to competitors. Because what feels like a useful improvement today could make the difference between profit and loss tomorrow.
Why you should think about patents now
Even if you have no plans to patent anything today, it is wise to be aware of the possibilities.
Sometimes, patents are already available for innovations you have been using for years; you just don't see them as something special anymore.
And patents can do more than just protect against copying. They can also:
- Make your company more attractive to investors.
- Increase your value in the event of a sale or collaboration.
- Give you extra bargaining power in business deals.
Even if you don't have a high-tech company, you may still need patents. Perhaps even more so. Because where there are fewer patents, there is more room to gain ground.
Do you think, “We don't have anything special”? Then, invite a patent attorney to review it. Who knows, you may discover that you have gold in your hands, without even knowing it.