The Role of Patenting in Academic—Industry Links in the UK

Abstract

<jats:p> In this follow-up article to her paper in the December 1994 issue of Industry and Higher Education, Kathryn Packer summarizes and assesses the views of industrial liaison (IL) staff and university researchers on the activities in UK universities that are designed to promote academic-industry relations in general and increased revenue through patenting in particular. She also looks at the government policy instruments intended to facilitate and speed up these changes. The paper explores the perceptions IL staff have of the changes that have taken place in their own institutions with regard to patenting, what forms of contact they currently have with research staff and what the role of the Department of Trade and Industry sponsored technology audits has been in promoting these links. The author then discusses IL staff's recommendations for future policy activities and changes in the law relating to intellectual property rights. </jats:p>