Valorisation PracticesIAM4RE.eu
Boosting Entrepreneurship in Research
At a Glance
- Promoting a shift from narrow Intellectual Property (IP) exploitation to a more comprehensive Intellectual Asset Management (IAM) approach
- Providing concrete tools, practical training programmes and tested, ready-to-use service models
- Integrating standardisation into research and valorisation workflows
- Offering policy guidance on how to integrate IAM into organisational practice
Beyond IP: Promoting a More Comprehensive Intellectual Asset and Standardisation Strategy
Many research institutions have procedures for patent filing but lack a broader Intellectual Asset Management approach. Know-how, data, software, research methods and collaborative results are often not mapped, strategically assessed or actively managed as assets. Portfolio thinking is limited, disclosure processes are uneven, and long-term asset strategies are rarely defined at institutional level. Standardisation is even less embedded. It is seldom considered during proposal design, rarely linked to exploitation planning, and not systematically connected to TTO advisory services.
As a result, opportunities to influence emerging standards, strengthen market positioning or reduce regulatory uncertainty are missed. TTOs and research support offices often lack structured tools to assess IAM maturity, identify competence gaps or integrate standardisation into their workflows. Institutional policies may reference EU Knowledge Valorisation principles, but operational translation into procedures, incentives and service models is inconsistent.
Turning Policy into Institutional Workflows
Translating the EU Codes of Practice on Intellectual Asset Management and standardisation into practical tools enables institutions to manage assets beyond patents and integrate standardisation into research and valorisation processes. This means moving from case-by-case patent handling to structured asset management. Intellectual assets such as data, software, research tools and know-how are identified and assessed systematically, allowing institutions to steer portfolios rather than individual files.
Standardisation is incorporated into project design and proposal development, disclosure review and exploitation planning, ensuring that alignment with standards and regulatory frameworks is considered alongside protection and commercialisation decisions. Targeted training for researchers, TTO staff and institutional managers strengthens internal capacity and clarifies responsibilities. Complementing this, tested service models and process templates streamline workflows and connect research development, asset governance and entrepreneurial support within existing structures.
