European IP Helpdesk at the ASTP Annual Conference 2024: Empowering Innovation and Exploring Social Impact Licensing

From May 22 to 24, European IP Helpdesk team participated in the ASTP Annual Conference 2024 in Sevilla, Spain. This event brought together leading experts in technology transfer, intellectual property (IP), and innovation ecosystems from across Europe.

Our Senior Innovation Manager, Ivana Vuka, delivered a presentation titled "Empowering Innovation: European IP Helpdesk Support to IP Professionals and Innovation Ecosystem Stakeholders." The presentation emphasised what European IP Helpdesk services are of particular interest for technology transfer professionals, namely, the tools to mitigate risks, assess, protect, and leverage IP assets effectively. Furthermore, it facilitates the expansion of professionals’ global networks and fosters international partnerships, enabling individuals to stay ahead of the evolving IP landscape.

Additionally, European IP Helpdeks team organised and moderated a highly engaging session on "Social Impact Licensing: Strategies and Practices." This session focused on the strategic use of impact licensing to bring technologies to market in a scalable and economically sustainable manner. Andrew Goldman, Senior Advisor at Medicines Patent Pool and Johan Moyersoen, Founder and General Manager of Impact Licensing Initiative provided valuable insights into social-impact licensing strategies and best practices. They explored how IP can be used for improved societal value creation, emphasising the importance of protecting technology to foster societal development.

Often, existing technology requires adaptation or further development to be viable in the market. Securing additional investments for this requires protecting these developments. Impact licensing, or 'hybrid impact licensing,' seeks to improve current IP licensing practices by strategically maximising the societal value of technologies and data while still considering economic aspects and returns on investment. It involves granting temporary permission for intentional, measurable, and enhanced introduction of technology and/or data to a specific market for societal purposes, such as addressing societal or environmental needs or responding to crises.