Intellectual Asset Management (IAM) Project

Speaker:

Sofia Gunnarsson Business Lawyer, GUFI, Gothenburg University

Increased responsibility is allotted to the Universities in Europe. In the knowledge economy, Universities are not only seen as a supplier of knowledge workers, or as the outpost at the frontier of knowledge; but as a driving force in the development of the new economy by providing valuable knowledge for commercialization. Varieties of management practices within Universities have emerged, and this presentation will focus on best practices of Intellectual Asset Management as a preparatory step for successful technology transfer. The presentation presents general tools to aid the objectification of knowledge to support the formation of prosperous research collaborations. Focus is on the earliest research phase where research collaborations are formed and terms are negotiated. Scenarios where difficulties’ regarding the management of IPRs arises will be explained. Moreover, differences between the different national regulatory frameworks, industry practice and European Framework Programs will be elaborated upon. I have gathered empirical evidence within the Frontiers network and in my capacity as an Intellectual Property Manager at the Chemical Physics Group, Physics and Engineering Physics at Chalmers, during 2007-2008. As a result of the presented tools, we have noticed not only an increased awareness amongst researchers at Chalmers, but time efficiency for researchers have increased, and the use of named tools in contract negotiation have had greater impact on the reasonable rate of return on research projects. I hope to use these tools to further develop the professionalism and hence the bargaining position of the European University.