The two-day kick-off event of IP4OS (January 8th and 9th, 2025) featured a symposium on Open Science and Intellectual Property and workshops on IP4OS different workstreams (campaign, training, synergy framework, dissemination etc.) and their key challenges.

In the following article, we will go in depth into the takeaways from day one of the ‘Open Science and Intellectual Property Symposium'. To read about the takeaways from day two, please follow this link.

Day 1 showcased five key talks on Open Science and Intellectual Property. Discussions focused on Open Science education, research transparency and efficiency, innovative IP approaches for health challenges, EU IP support services, and the ERA policy framework. Emphasis was placed on fitting IP tools, training, collaboration, and regulatory developments to foster open and collaborative research practices.

Capacity Building in Open Science

Julia Priess-Buchheit (Kiel University) delivered an overview of Open Science Education, focusing on its relevance and implementation for diverse target groups, including librarians, data stewards, students, researchers, educators, lawyers, etc. She underlined the importance of training as a fundamental element for integrating agile IP management, fitting IP tools and Open Science principles into research culture. Practical examples were shared, including European projects and training like FOSTER, which offers learning resources to support Open Science Practices; Path2Integrity, which delivers educational pathways for FAIR outputs; and EOSC Node training catalogue, which supports the European Open Science Cloud's infrastructure. Her presentation underscored the growing need for a structured capacity-building approach to enable the application of timely and effective IP tools to support the adoption of open practices (in research and innovation) in ERA.

Julia Priess-Buchheit (Photo: Olaf Bathke)

Open Science and Preregistration

Tim Errington, representing the Center for Open Science (COS), offered a comprehensive presentation on thecnorms and challenges surrounding open science. His presentation identified systemic hurdles that hinder credible and transparent research, such as publication bias, restrictive sharing practices, and limited transparency about the research process. He discussed how scaling and sustaining change towards greater transparency, collaboration, and accountability requires a systems level approach. Using preregistration as an example, Errington elaborated on the interconnected role technology, training, community, policy, and metascience play in advancing culture change towards OS. This presentation highlighted that as more of the research process is made open, new IP considerations emerge that require guidance and support. 

Tim Errington (Photo: Olaf Bathke)

Open Science and Intellectual Properties – How to synergise?

In his enlightening talk, Richard Gold, the Chief Policy and Partnerships Officer at Conscience, highlights the inadequacies of traditional intellectual property approaches in solving critical health threats of the 21st century, such as antimicrobial resistance and rare diseases. Offering a viable solution, Gold promotes OS and multi-sector partnerships, employing novel forms of IP to create high-quality datasets, share research results, and widen incentives. By breaking from the conventional routes of exclusivity and secrecy, regulatory exclusivities provide a formidable alternative, creating an environment for drug development where social benefits are paramount, even in high-risk scenarios. This OS approach enhances the reputation of involved firms and attracts employees driven by a purpose to give back to society.

Richard Gold (Photo: Olaf Bathke)

Capacity Building via the European IP Helpdesk

In her presentation, Claire Fritz represented the European IP Helpdesk, a service initiative of the European Commission. The Helpdesk provides free, first-line support on IP to current and potential beneficiaries of EU-funded projects, researchers, and EU SMEs. Its services include training, continuous updates via its website, local support across Europe, and confidential assistance on individual IP matters through its helpline. Additionally, it offers practical IP knowledge through high-level publications - including on OS -and maintains an information point at key networking events and conferences. Claire emphasised the international network of IP experts and the unique collaborations involving EEN IP Ambassadors from 26 EU countries. Their efforts contribute to fostering IP awareness and expertise across Europe.

Claire Fritz (Photo: Olaf Bathke)

An EU Copyright and Data Legislative Framework Fit for Research

Bertil Egger-Beck from the European Commission explored the ERA Policy Agenda for 2022-2027. The presentation 'ERA Action 2: An EU Copyright and Data Legislative and Regulatory Framework Fit for Research' outlines one major legal framework development for the IP4OS project, which aims to disseminate scientific knowledge (publicly funded R&I results and publications) in the ERA. His presentation connected IP4OS's coordination and support action with the legal framework in which the previous speakers outlined their showcases. He showed how the IP4OS project is linked to ERA actions: one (Open Science & EOSC), two (Data Legislative and Regulatory Framework) and seven (Knowledge Valorisation), representing an appropriate gateway for upcoming actions.

Bertil Egger-Beck (Photo: Olaf Bathke)

Read about day two of the IP4OS kick-off event here.