The newly-funded Horizon Europe project IP4OS will empower multi-professional teams across Europe with tools and practices to align Intellectual Property (IP) management with Open Science (OS) principles.
The successful valorisation of research knowledge is critical to advancing Europe’s economic, digital, ecological, and social transformation. Achieving this requires a seamless integration of Intellectual Property (IP) management and Open Science (OS) practices, ensuring that research outputs are both protected and widely accessible.
Addressing this, the IP4OS project (Intellectual Property for Open Science) will leverage the synergy between IP tools and OS principles to ensure research outputs are more FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Re-usable), promoting sustainable innovation and collaboration across Europe.
IP4OS, which began on the 1st of January, and launched its activities with a Kick-off meeting in Brussels on 8 and 9 January 2025, brings together a multi-professional consortium of eight partner institutions from six European countries, working to create practical strategies for knowledge valorisation. Coordinated by Kiel University (CAU), the project will run for 24 months.
A key component of the project is the formation of multi-professional teams within research institutions. These teams will provide hands-on support at every stage of the research cycle, helping researchers navigate the complexities of knowledge valorisation. By balancing openness with strategic protection - applying the principle of "as open as possible, as closed as necessary" - IP4OS will ensure that research findings can be both shared and commercially leveraged when appropriate.
To achieve its objectives, IP4OS will conduct an extensive survey of good practices, identify knowledge gaps, and create educational resources to empower professionals and institutions. The project will track its impact across multiple dimensions, including knowledge sharing, professional empowerment, scientific progress, economic growth, and social innovation. Special attention will be given to fostering inclusivity, research integrity, and ecological responsibility.
By enhancing the understanding and application of IP and OS, IP4OS is set to redefine the European research landscape, enabling more effective dissemination and utilisation of knowledge.
Stay updated on IP4OS news by following the project on LinkedIn, BlueSky, and YouTube, or visiting the official website at ip4os.eu.
This project receives funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe Research and Innovation Programme (Grant Agreement ID: 101059592). Views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Commission. Neither the EU nor the EC can be held responsible for them.