In today's context of accelerated digitalization and global competition, intellectual property is a key factor in ensuring sustainable economic growth for companies. This article assesses the impact of intellectual property ownership on the economic performance of European companies. Main Problem: the impact of intellectual property use on the economic performance of European companies in the context of global competition and accelerated digitalization. Attention is paid to both large corporations and small and medium-sized enterprises, which form the backbone of the European economy. Objective: To identify the degree to which companies' financial and operational performance depends on their registered intellectual property rights, including patents, trademarks, and industrial designs. Methods: Based on an analysis of statistical data from the European Patent Office and the European Union Intellectual Property Office. The sample included over 119,000 companies from 27 EU countries. Methods of comparative analysis, correlation analysis, and assessment of differences between groups of companies with different levels of engagement in the intellectual property protection system were used. Results and Their Significance: Show that companies with intellectual property rights demonstrate higher levels of economic performance. Revenue per employee in such organizations exceeds that of firms without intellectual property by 41 percent. For small and medium-sized enterprises, this increase reaches 44 percent, and for large companies, 16 percent. Companies with a comprehensive intellectual property portfolio also demonstrate higher employment, productivity, and competitiveness. The study's findings confirm the strategic importance of intellectual property for shaping Europe's innovative economy. Particular attention is paid to the need to actively engage small and medium-sized enterprises in the use of intellectual property protection systems, as well as to improving state and institutional support mechanisms in this area.