Intellectual property experts Marks & Clerk LLP has signed up to become the first official sponsor of Birmingham Science Park Aston's Entrepreneurs for the Future (e4f) business incubation scheme.

Through the arrangement, members of the e4f programme will benefit from Marks & Clerk's extensive intellectual property experience, providing them with vital advice on patents, trademarks, designs and copyright, all of which is crucial for tech-oriented businesses.

Businesses taking part in the incubation programme - which is available to technology start-up companies - already benefit from funding support, office space, access to state-of-the-art internet and technology, and expert advice and mentoring from leading businesses for up to six months. 

Simon Jenner, head of incubation at BSPA, said:  "Since launching e4f 18 months ago, we have seen an increasing demand from a hugely diverse array of different technology-based businesses that feel they could benefit from the support and mentorship that we provide. The recent launch of our third phase - including additional physical office space - has ensured that we are keeping up with demand from SMEs and start-ups eager to grow their businesses.

"The addition of Marks & Clerk's experience will provide our members with a vital understanding of intellectual property, which is imperative for any business operating in the technology sectors.  I hope that through the support of Marks & Clerk, we will continue to provide the best possible support to our member companies."

Established in Birmingham in 1887, Marks & Clerk LLP now has 19 offices around the world, including Birmingham as well as other locations across the UK, Luxembourg, France, Canada, China, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Singapore.

David Ward, Regional Managing Partner at Marks & Clerk, said: "As a business that started its life in Birmingham over 120 years ago, it is hugely rewarding to be able to support the development of technologically-aware, forward-thinking businesses that themselves will hopefully stay in the area and contribute to the economic development of the West Midlands economy.

"I would like to wish the very best of luck to each and every company that takes part in the e4f programme both now and in the future."

Based at BSPA, the e4f Centre is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund. Since launching in November 2009, the e4f programme has seen 35 per cent of start-up businesses go on to become revenue generating companies in their own right after completing their time on the programme.

BSPA recently launched the third phase of the e4f programme, which included the addition of more offices and desk space, enabling the programme to support up to 50 companies a year.