The policy makers on intellectual property is always concerned about “How to make great ideas that come from research of institutes / universities fly (transform them into products and services in the market)”. Understand that need, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) has published a set of three books: "Intellectual Property Policy in universities and research institutes" as a set of manuals in the field of IP and technology transfer.
Universities and research institutions have a fundamental role in socio-economic development. Innovation and scientific development are the basis for economic, technological and social mobility as well as for economic growth. Universities and research institutions are a main arena in which scientific development and innovation takes place and the intellectual property (IP) system is the main mechanism that enables universities and society at large to capture the value of innovation.
It is the IP system that assists Universities and research institutions to commercialize their knowledge assets and by doing so potentially obtain additional sources of funding, which may be channeled into, amongst other, further research. At the same time, partnerships with the private sector and other organizations can ensure that academic research outcomes have broader impact, including competitiveness of industry and the regions, establishment of new companies, or addressing a variety of socio-economic challenges such as health, energy, and food security. This is the primary reason for Universities and research institutions in a developing and least developed context for engaging in the commercialization of their research outcomes: to ensure relevance of the research for impact in society.
This approach requires support for the entrepreneurial dimension of knowledge transfer, where strategies that leverage IP assets at the same time place emphasis on how academic research and the resultant IP best provide economic, environmental and social benefits for society at large.
An institutional IP policy is the very foundation of IP management in that an IP policy:
• serves as the starting point for a common understanding about IP, IP rights and incentives for researchers;
• establishes the structure for the way an academic or research institution deals with the ownership and disposition of its IP. As such, it ensures certainty and transparency to reinforce the links between the institutions and industry; and
• is also fundamental in helping institutions address social commitments, and especially, in ensuring the dissemination of knowledge and technology for the public good.
The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) provides support programs to assist Universities and research institutions in the efficient identification, management and commercialization of research outcomes and the resultant IP. The toolkit includes 03 instruction books:
1. Intellectual Property Policy Template for Universities and Research Institutions (Template) aims to provide a compendium of key issues that are essential in an IP policy, including ownership, incentives, confidentiality and publication, IP management and commercialization, recording and maintenance of IP, and IP-related conflicts of interest.
Authors: Ms. Lien Verbauwhede Koglin, Mr. Richard Cahoon, Mr. Mohammed Aljafari, Ms. Hagit Messer-Yaron, Mr. Barthelemy Nyasse, Ms. Maria del Pilar Noriega Escobar and Ms. Tana Pistorius.
The Template provides a coherent set of clauses that comprise an effective IP Policy. The clauses may be used as is. However, there are a variety of policy choices and clauses that may be used instead of those provided in the Template.
2. Guidelines for Customization of the IP Policy Template provide these alternatives and provide options through different country examples, and an analysis of pros and cons of various approaches.
The Guidelines were prepared by Ms. Lien Verbauwhede Koglin, Ms. Kerry Faul and Mr. Richard Cahoon.
This publication provides practical guidance for high-level officials responsible for the development of policies, rules and regulations in their respective academic or research institutions, to facilitate customization of the Intellectual Property Policy Template for Universities and Research Institutions (“Template”). The Guidelines for Customization of the IP Policy Template (“Guidelines”) explain the contents and describe the background of each proposed article in the Template. Where possible, the text of the articles is illustrated with examples and extracts of real time institutional policies and useful references.
The primary purpose of this Template and its Guidelines is to provide a range of options, rather than a set of recommendations. The aim is to promote reflection and critical thinking; to stimulate certainty in terms of IP ownership; to encourage responsible IP commercialization of research results; and to provide objective information that will support IP policy drafters as they make judgments, tailored for their institution.
3. IP Policy Writers’ Checklist: Practical guidance and step by step information on the different stages the process of creating or improving an IP Policy usually involves.
Author: Ms. Lien Verbauwhede Koglin.
Institutions wishing to use this document as the basis for their policy are permitted to, and should, delete, amend and add relevant information to meet the institution’s specific obligations, requirements and practices, as well as to conform to existing institution policies and applicable laws. The Template is not to be treated as a substitute for professional legal advice. Institutions are encouraged to obtain advice from an appropriate professional source.
Download:
1. Intellectual Property Policy Template for Universities and Research Institutions
English
Vietnamese
2. Guidelines for Customization of the IP Policy Template
English
Vietnamese
3. IP Policy Writers’ Checklist
English
Vietnamese
Source: https://www.wipo.int/about-ip/en/universities_research/ip_policies/