Building Value through Intellectual Property: Turning Ideas into Assets

Welcome to "Ask The Expert", Silverstone Technology Cluster’s podcast. In each episode, we invite seasoned professionals and industry leaders to share their insights, experiences, and strategies for navigating the complexities of modern business and the advanced engineering landscape.   In this episode, we sit down with Nick Silvester, Managing Partner at IP Asset and Chartered British and European Patent Attorney.  We unpack how to spot IP as it's being generated, from solving day-to-day technical problems to building up a company's background IP over time. Nick explains why founders, engineers and scientists so often undervalue their own contributions, and why keeping good records of the problems you solve is one of the most powerful (and underused) tools for building IP value.   For growth-stage technical businesses in particular, Nick shares why IP should be considered early, not just when a dispute or deal forces the issue, and how it can be used as a genuine driver of company value, not simply a legal safety net.     Meet our expert: Nick Silvester – Managing Partner at IP Asset  Nick is a Chartered British and European Patent Attorney and leads IP Asset's engineering and software & AI team. He spent 18 years as a Race Engineer and Design Engineer in motorsport and automotive industries, including the FIA World Touring Car Championship where he contributed to World Championship victories in 2012, 2014–2017. He was also involved in Nissan's ZEOD zero emission Le Mans entry and development of the Nissan Juke R.   Since joining IP Asset, Nick has built a wealth of experience supporting clients with commercially driven IP strategy and protection, helping them recognise where they are creating value, put the appropriate protection in place, and navigate everything from collaborations and joint ventures to the ownership of new ideas and existing know-how.   Away from work, Nick enjoys rowing, cycling and skiing, and maintains a strong interest in anything involving an internal combustion engine.    This episode is brought to you by ⁠⁠TC Group⁠⁠. TC Group’s an Accountancy Age ‘Top 20’ firm of business advisors and accountants, providing quality financial advice and strategy, enabling you to achieve your business growth goals, safeguard your wealth, and maximise your tax efficiency. Our teams’ experience and expertise mean we understand the challenges and opportunities you face at a local, national, and even international level. We’ll invest time in getting to know you so we can provide proactive and tailored advice, supporting you in making the right decisions both now and in the future. We pride ourselves on offering more than the standard compliance services and straight-forward number crunching. Through our UK-wide network, we offer a multitude of functional accountancy and specialist business growth services along with personal financial solutions and legal advice, providing our clients with a unified “one-stop-shop” approach, saving you both time and money. With TC Group by your side, no matter how complex your financial situation may be, we have the resources and expertise to help you navigate it successfully.   Recorded and produced by The Pod Collective.