The Innovation and Intellectual Property Management (IIPM) Laboratory, led by Professor Frank Tietze at the University of Cambridge, made a strong showing at the 20th Annual EPIP Conference in Antwerp, Belgium. This year's theme, “Turning IP Ambitions into Action,” set the stage for lively discussions on the role of intellectual property in addressing global challenges.
Professor Tietze chaired a session on IP and AI, focused on using large language models for IP research, and joined a roundtable on Open Innovation, SDGs, and Circular Design. He also presented a case study on IP strategies in biotech commercialisation, focusing on Cambridge Antibody Technology, a successful venture by a serial entrepreneur and Nobel laureate, Sir Gregory Winter. Dr Soujanya Mantravadi presented early insights from the lab’s flagship project, the Impact Licensing Initiative (ILI). Her presentation introduced a proposed ecosystem designed to support socially impactful IP licensing – an increasingly critical area for innovation policymakers and practitioners alike.
The lab's presence extended across multiple sessions. Rahul Patil presented on IP for sustainability transitions at the doctoral research workshop, while collaborator Melanie Martini (Fraunhofer INT) introduced early findings on the concept of “patent zero” – the potential starting points of innovation trajectories. IIPM’s contributions reflected a growing emphasis on aligning intellectual property research with pressing societal challenges, sustainability goals, and emerging technologies.
