ARMONK, NY ? IBM announced Tuesday that it is launching a new licensing program with the venture capital community and startups as it seeks to populate emerging businesses with its technology.

The new IBM Ventures in Collaboration program will give venture capital companies in IBM’s partner network and their portfolio clients with the opportunity to access more than 40,000 patents to help ignite innovation. The program also provides startups with the opportunity to partner with IBM’s inventor community to access the technology behind the patents, perhaps stimulating new thinking around IBM’s existing intellectual property.

Start-ups with annual revenues under $10 million will receive a standard, three-year cross-licensing contract for $25,000, said Michelle McIntyre, a spokeswoman for IBM Venture Capital Group.

Companies with more than $10 million in annual revenues and in the process of bringing their products to market receive a custom, five-year cross-licensing contract and pay 1 percent in royalties. There is no revenue cap on a company’s eligibility, McIntyre said.

“IBM is making it easier for young companies to innovate,” said Claudia Fan Munce, IBM vice president and managing director, Venture Capital Group. “This program provides VC-backed companies with an opportunity to access IBM’s patent vault to innovate faster and become more successful in the marketplace.”

The program is initially open to IBM’s 150 venture capital partners, but Big Blue is willing to discuss the program with start-ups outside its VC network, McIntryre said. Some of the participating VCs include Walden International, U.S. Venture Partners and 3i.

Big Blue’s cross-licensing program is its latest effort to strengthen its relationship with young companies in the hope that its software and hardware will be used in a start-up’s emerging products. The relationship also provides IBM with a glimpse of emerging technology trends.

IBM’s approach is also different from those of other Fortune 500 companies. It spends less time making direct investments in start-ups as a strategic partner and instead invests in funds run by venture capitalists. Last year, for example, Big Blue invested more than $20 million in funds run by venture capitalists.

For more information, click on IBM.Com/VentureCapitalGroup