The European Commission has launched a stakeholder consultation on the EU Blueprint for IP Licensing and Spin-off Creation, a new initiative that aims to provide practical guidance for universities, public research organisations (PROs) and their knowledge transfer offices (KTOs). Announced under the Lab to Unicorn initiative of the EU Startup and Scaleup Strategy, the Blueprint is expected to be published by the end of 2026.
The Commission is now inviting researchers, technology transfer professionals, investors, universities and other stakeholders to comment on the discussion paper that will form the basis of the Blueprint. The consultation focuses on three areas: researcher incentives, academic spin-off creation, and licensing academic intellectual assets to third parties. Stakeholders can submit their feedback until 16 August 2026.
The discussion paper proposes practical guidance for many of the issues that continue to slow down research commercialisation across Europe. These include recognising knowledge valorisation activities in academic careers, introducing transparent revenue-sharing models, simplifying spin-off negotiations, applying proportionate approaches to IP valuation, and designing licensing agreements that support company growth and attract investment.
A key objective is to make technology transfer more predictable for all parties involved. The paper recommends greater use of standard licensing agreements, clearer negotiation processes and reference frameworks for equity, royalties and governance, while allowing enough flexibility to reflect different technologies, sectors and national innovation systems. It also recognises that commercialisation increasingly depends on software, data and know-how alongside patents, requiring approaches that reflect the full range of intellectual assets.
The Blueprint builds on existing European initiatives, including the EU Guiding Principles for Knowledge Valorisation, the Codes of Practice for Knowledge Valorisation, the New European Innovation Agenda and the EU Startup and Scaleup Strategy. Its objective is to bring together existing good practices into operational guidance that can help reduce fragmentation and strengthen technology transfer across Europe.
Once adopted, the Blueprint could become an important reference for research organisations developing or updating their IP and commercialisation policies. By promoting more consistent approaches to licensing and spin-off creation, it has the potential to strengthen collaboration between universities, investors and industry, while supporting a more connected European innovation ecosystem.
Take part in the consultation:
- Access the survey
- Review the discussion paper