Viewpoint

Technology transfer in Germany is ripe for reform. A grace period for filing patents would help – and industry collaboration needs an overhaul, says Jörg Steinbach, President of the Technical University of Berlin

The problems with technology transfer arise because it is entrusted to universities and research funding bodies. The act of preparing research for commercialisation requires commercial skills, and should be handled by independent commercial bodies

The UK government does not have a coherent strategy to support the commercialisation of research and is failing to secure the full economic benefits of its world-class science base, warn MPs

With more and more services available over the Web, those without access are at an increasing disadvantage. An EU-funded programme is plotting a route across this digital divide, helping SMEs develop products and empowering older people

Complex and inconsistent clinical trial regulations are causing delays and raising costs for academic clinicians conducting international studies. Governments need to harmonise trial approval processes, says the OECD

Europe’s attempt to unify rules on clinical trials in the 2001 Directive is widely acknowledged to be a disaster. After years of debate, the Commission’s proposals for reform are getting a favourable reception, but it is critical the new regulation takes account of emerging technologies

Third generation cognitive computing is making sense of data mountains and starting to deliver remarkable improvements in healthcare. Now, sensitively calibrated data protection rules are needed – to reassure patients and protect privacy, whilst allowing progress to continue

It’s a virtuous circle: New approval processes put in place by the European Medicines Agency are de-risking drug development, promoting investment in early-stage biotech and meeting unmet medical needs, says Paul Morton

The reform of data protection will lead to a surge of innovation in products and services and make the public sector more efficient, the Commission promises. But this won’t happen if ICT skills continue to be neglected

Universities have a pivotal role to play in responding to the Grand Challenges, fostering innovation and creating growth and social wellbeing. How should these institutions respond to this task? asks Lauritz B. Holm-Nielsen, President of Euroscience and Rector of Aarhus University, Denmark