Universities can
now access a new tool to help develop and manage their
intellectual assets. The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) has
today (19 May) launched a strategy guide called ‘Intellectual
Asset Management for Universities’.
The new guide provides advice and information to universities to
help them understand how they can best use their institution’s
intellectual property (IP). This can be an invention, trade mark,
original design or the application of a good idea.
Income generated through the commercial use of intellectual
property rights can be worth millions of pounds. In 2009/10 £84
million was generated directly from IP at universities.
Launching the guide, Minister for Intellectual Property Baroness
Wilcox said:
“The guide will help universities maximise the benefits of their
intellectual assets, which in turn will support the economic
growth of the UK. The Government is committed to providing the
best opportunities for young inventors, providing them with a
strong basis on which they can turn their ideas into reality.
“It is now more important than ever for university leaders to
think strategically about how to best to protect and effectively
use their intellectual assets. This guide will help each
institution seize the opportunity to use their intellectual
property to secure maximum benefit for the economy and society.”
One example of an institution which demonstrates how effective
policies can underpin the commercialisation of intellectual
property is Cardiff University, which has generated around £7
million in licence fees and royalties over the last five years
through implementing its Innovation and Engagement Strategy. The
university’s research has been developed into a number of
commercial ventures such as MedaPhor Limited, an ultrasound
simulation business which specialises in the development and sale
of advanced virtual ultrasound training systems for the healthcare
service.
Since 2004 MedaPhor has benefited from over £1.3 million of
investment and new product development grants. It has also created
more than 40 high tech jobs in the local area. Its ScanTrainer
which provides fast and effective ultrasound training has now been
sold to 11 hospitals and academic institutions in the UK. The
company is now expanding its distribution to Europe, the US, the
Far East and the Gulf.
Nicola Dandridge, Chief Executive of Universities UK, said:
"Universities UK has been pleased to work with the
Intellectual Property Office on this new guide which will be an
invaluable resource for vice-chancellors and senior managers in
universities.
"We hope that the guide will be a practical tool in
helping universities to refine their IP strategies to maximise the
benefits they gain from the intellectual assets created by their
staff and students.”
Dr Philip Graham, Executive Director for the Association for
University Research and Industry Links (AURIL) added:
"The pressure was always on knowledge transfer offices
to deliver but now, in the current economic climate, that pressure
has really increased.
“UK research is world class and should be put to good use, both
to assist in economic development and for the social and public
good. Institutions don't want to sit on IP for the sake
of it and most do give away what they don't need or want.
“IP is not just about patents but the whole range of intellectual
property assets within institutions, but each one of them is
different. They must decide what it is they want to achieve and
put a strategy in place to deliver that. Innovation is not cut and
paste and neither is an IP strategy.”
Phil Clare, Chair of PraxisUnico and Associate Director of
Research Services at the University of Oxford helped to write the
guide. He said:
"PraxisUnico are pleased to have contributed to the
development of the guide to Intellectual Asset Management. As
universities have developed ever more creative ways to increase
the value they contribute to the economy and society from their
research and education activities, so they need to think more
deeply about their strategy for managing their intellectual
assets. We hope that this guide will help institutions consider
how best to invest in knowledge exchange, as this becomes an
increasingly important part of their mission."
The booklet has been produced thanks to contributions from a
number of partners including Research Councils UK (RCUK), the
Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), Universities
UK (UUK), PraxisUnico and AURIL (the Association for University
Research and Industry Links).
The new guide replaces an older version that was first produced
in 2003. The guide can be found on the IPO website (www.ipo.gov.uk)
Notes to editors
Intellectual property represents the property of the mind or
intellect. It can be an invention, trade mark, original design or
the practical application of a good idea. For more information
visit the IPO website www.ipo.gov.uk.
The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) is within the Department
for Business, Innovation, and Skills (BIS) and is responsible for
the national framework of Intellectual Property rights, comprising
patents, designs, trade marks and copyright.
Its role is to help manage an IP system that encourages
innovation and creativity, balances the needs of consumers and
users, promotes strong and competitive markets and is the
foundation of the knowledge-based economy.
It operates in a national and an international environment and
its work is governed by national and international law, including
various international treaties relating to Intellectual Property
(IP) to which the United Kingdom is a party.
Universities UK is the representative organisation for the
UK's universities. Founded in 1918, its mission is to be
the definitive voice for all universities in the UK, providing
high quality leadership and support to its members to promote a
successful and diverse higher education sector. With 133 members
and offices in London, Cardiff and Edinburgh, it promotes the
strength and success of UK universities nationally and
internationally. Visit: www.universitiesuk.ac.uk
AURIL is the professional association representing all
practitioners involved in knowledge creation, development and
exchange in the UK and Ireland who work to ensure that new ideas,
technologies and innovations flow from their institution into the
market place.
PraxisUnico is an educational not-for-profit organisation set up
to support innovation and commercialisation of public sector and
charity research for social and economic impact.
For further information, please contact Dan Palmer on 0207 215
5303 or e-mail communications@ipo.gov.uk
Contacts:
BIS Press Office
NDS.BIS@coi.gsi.gov.uk
Dan Palmer
Phone: 020 7215 5303
dan.palmer@bis.gsi.gov.uk