In the second IP4OS Masterclass, Alessandra Baccigotti, an expert in knowledge transfer and innovation, shared key insights on reconciling intellectual property (IP) management with open science in university contexts. Drawing from over a decade of experience at the University of Bologna and European policy advising, Alessandra broke down how IP rights, especially patents, copyrights, and trade secrets, can be used strategically by public research institutions to increase societal and economic value without contradicting open science principles. She emphasised that IP protection is not about restricting access but about gaining control over assets, enabling flexible sharing models and fostering impact through commercialization and partnerships.

Alessandra dismantled the perceived conflict between open science and IP, showing they can coexist through thoughtful planning, such as filing patents before publishing, or licensing open-source software with commercial applications. She outlined real challenges like trade secrets, early sharing risks, and security in international collaboration, while advocating for a nuanced, case-by-case approach. Her key message: openness demands control, and universities must be empowered with awareness, incentives, and balanced strategies to maximize research impact, whether through open dissemination or strategic IP protection.