Unlocking university IP: Global insights into commercialisation challenges and opportunities

Policymakers, university leaders, and investors globally widely believe in the vast potential of university intellectual property (IP), often framed as a resource simply waiting to be unleashed. However, the management of university IP is a difficult and highly complex endeavour which contributes to the outcomes from commercialisation remaining stubbornly low. IP management is shaped by a confluence of factors including regional development levels, prevailing cultural norms, and the specific legal frameworks governing intellectual property. A crucial element in understanding the innovation strategies of universities and research institutions is the intricate interplay between IP and commercialisation.

This brief provides a comparative analysis of IP and commercialisation regulations effecting universities across five global regions: Europe, Asia, Africa, the Americas, and Australia and include case studies from leading universities used to highlight successful models and areas in need of reform.

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To explore how universities are putting innovation strategies into action, tune into our podcast episode Commercialising innovation: UTS Rapido’s impact on research transformations with Hervé Harvard, Executive Director at the University of Technology Sydney. In this conversation, Hervé shares the story behind UTS Rapido, a pioneering innovation hub, and reflects on the practical challenges of moving from research to commercialisation, including IP management, industry engagement, and bridging cultural gaps between sectors.

Medisa Foçic (author) is Project Coordinator and Research Officer at ICKR (EU).
Todd Davey (author) is A/Professor Entrepreneurship at IMTBS, France; Institute Director of ICKR (EU) and Associate Partner at UIIN.
Alep Blancas (author) is Policy Research and Marketing Associate at ICKR (EU).