New tool to help universities manage their intellectual property

The UK Intellectual Property Office has launched a strategy guide, Intellectual Asset Management for Universities, providing advice and information to help universities maximise the value of their intellectual property.

The guide includes contributions from partners including Research Councils UK, the Higher Education Funding Council for England, Universities UK, the technology transfer body PraxisUnico and AURIL, the Association for University Research and Industry Links.

Nicola Dandridge, Chief Executive of Universities UK, said the new guide 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.”

Phil Clare, Chair of PraxisUnico and Associate Director of Research Services at the University of Oxford, who helped to write the guide, said universities 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.”

In 2009/10 £84 million was generated directly from intellectual property owned by UK universities.

The guide replaces an older version first produced in 2003 and can be found at www.ipo.gov.uk