University of Bristol launches Easy Access IP
The University of Bristol has developed a free-to-access portfolio of intellectual property (IP) that aims to increase engagement between universities and industry.
‘Easy Access IP’ aims to speed up the transfer of academic knowledge and expertise into the hands of commercial partners, who can then develop it to benefit the economy and society as a whole.
The news comes at a time when intellectual property laws in the UK have come under fire.
“We welcome new mechanisms that open up the opportunities for engagement between industry and academia, and transfer new technology into the marketplace quicker,” said Dr Malcolm Skingle, director, academic liaison at GlaxoSmithKline.
“While sharing IP through traditional methods and licensing will still be appropriate in some instances, this new approach presents another way for universities to drive the development of new technology.”
In March, the Universities of Bristol, Glasgow and King’s College London won £80,000 in funding from the Intellectual Property Office – the government body responsible for granting Intellectual Property (IP) rights in the United Kingdom – to become open innovation universities.
The University of Bristol has released its first Easy Access IP opportunities alongside King’s this week.
“Some university IP can be too early-stage for a company to risk investment and could present an uncertain market, which can sometimes hinder industry take-up of IP,” said Dr Alison Campbell OBE, director of innovation at King’s.
“By offering easy access to this IP, companies can evaluate it quickly and explore its potential with reduced risk. This also means that we’re disseminating more of our knowledge for public benefit – a key part of our College mission.”