Rouse confirms deal for Konsert Strategy & IP

UK origin international IP services firm Rouse has acquired Konsert Strategy & IP. The Swedish management consulting firm will boost Rouse’s implementation capabilities, to create a holistic proposition for clients.

Intellectual property (IP) is a key asset for businesses. Its promotion and protection can be a source of growth in cases of licensing, help brands distinguish themselves in the market and positively influence the valuation of an organisation. According to Spherical Insights, the global IP multimedia sub-system market alone was valued at $2.71 billion in 2023 and is expected to reach $9.23 billion over the next ten years – illustrating the high stakes at play in the sector.

This makes advisory services to make the most of IP an attractive proposition – and has led to a period of strong growth for Konsert Strategy & IP. Based in Sweden, is a niche management consultancy which Konsert works with clients across Europe, Asia, and North America, and operates at the intersection of business, technology, and IP. Initially founded in 2006 as a spin-out from the Center for Intellectual Property at Chalmers University of Technology and the University of Gothenburg, Konsert’s client list now spans across cutting-edge growth ventures to the world’s largest companies, across all technology-intensive industries.

The firm’s unique position caught the eye of Rouse – a global intellectual property leader. Established in the UK in 1990, with a vision to provide high quality IP support and transparency in the complex emerging markets of Asia, Rouse has since expanded geographically and to cover all aspects of the IP services value chain – and hosts over 800 people from 17 offices in 12 jurisdictions.

Rouse offers services in six key areas: trade mark; patent; enforcement; disputes; digital and commercial; and consultancy. The move for Konsert bolsters that last line, and will enable Rouse to provide a stronger, more integrated, set of solutions to help clients moving in the years ahead.

Luke Minford, CEO at Rouse, said, “We are seriously excited to be joined by [Konsert]. They are some of the brightest minds in the IP industry and… they have a consulting capability that is truly unique, enabling clients to compete and win in critical areas of technology and innovation. This merger is going to result in the exchange of so much critical know-how and insight that I have no doubt of its benefit to our clients and people across the Rouse group.”

Combining Rouse’s global integrated IP service model with Konsert’s technology-based competitiveness and management consulting capabilities creates a unique, end-to-end value proposition, which a release from Rouse contends has “not yet seen in the IP services market”. This is because it “bridges a crucial market gap by offering C-suite, board and IP stakeholders” to provide “a single source for both strategic IP consultancy and IP services execution”.

Looking ahead, Konsert will remain an independent brand within the Rouse group, preserving its unique advisory model. The move meanwhile opens up new opportunities for Konsert to reach a new international client base via Rouse’s global network.

Commenting on the deal, Jens Bördin, co-founder and CEO at Konsert Strategy & IP, added, “This merger with Rouse marks a transformative step for both us and the IP services industry. By combining our technology-driven competitiveness and management consulting capabilities with Rouse’s core services and global reach, we are setting a new standard for integrated IP services. We are super-excited to start working with Luke and our new colleagues at Rouse as we jointly move towards becoming the world’s first truly global and integrated IP firm.”