Universities' Intellectual Property: Path for Innovation or Patent Competition?

Abstract

Technological innovation is represented by the conversion of knowledge into new products and processes which, when commercialized, generate wealth. In relations with companies, universities' role is to develop scientific knowledge, fostering industry's R&D activities. This article proposes an analysis of the technology transfer process performed by public universities in Brazil. Results demonstrate that universities are facing difficulties in requesting and licensing patents based on scientific results, due to lack of commercial contact with companies and their limitations in adapting available technologies. The increase in scientific output is not being effectively transformed into new technologies for products and services, exposing the necessity for new policies to approach university-industry relations. For universities, this may mean rethinking the role of patents in the technology transfer process, such as increasing co-authorship with companies and have companies support technological research within the university, instead of investing in legal protection, distant from market needs.

Relation Analysis of Knowledge Management, Research, and Innovation in University Research Groups

“…Universities support innovation and science development with their scientific and technological capacities. Universities make efforts on research, knowledge production, and solutions for society problems in addition to teaching (Dalmarco, Dewes, Zawislak, & Padula, 2011;Gillian Ragsdell, Rathi, Given, & Forcier, 2016). Accordingly, universities play an essential role in the transformation process of society, because these are institutions that take place on a public stage for the advancement of knowledge which modifies and transforms the socio-economic dynamics (Ovallos-Gazabon, De-La-Hoz- Escorcia, & Maldonado-Perez, 2015).…”

Accelerating a Technology Commercialization; with a Discussion on the Relation between Technology Transfer Efficiency and Open Innovation

“…As a result of this legislation, almost all research universities in the world established technology transfer offices (TTOs) to manage new technology commercialization [8][9][10][11][12][13][14]. A technology transfer office (TTO) is a kind of organization to assist research organizations in managing their intellectual assets in ways that facilitate their transformation into a benefit for society [15].…”

Health Innovation and Social Justice in Brazil

“…Diverse forms of collaboration exist between university laboratories and pharmaceutical firms, through: R&D contracts to develop technologies for producing generic medicines or new molecules; consultancy agreements with academic researchers who sit on the Boards of scientific firms; and patents owned jointly by universities and private firms. Research statistics show a growth in the number of patents registered by Brazilian universities in the field of health during the 2000s 37 , even though there are also studies showing the problems involved in their industrialization 38 . Universities moreover host many bioequivalence and clinical trial centres, although the feeling in industry is that there are not enough of certain phases of clinical studies.…”