PRESS RELEASE | FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | 23 JULY 2025
Netherlands, July 2025 — Licensing intellectual assets in a complex and fast-changing world requires more than traditional models and patent-based strategies. The EU-funded IMPAC3T-IP action is developing a scenario-based toolbox and training programme to help address this challenge. This will help Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs), Knowledge Transfer professionals, universities, public research organisations, and policy stakeholders generate greater value and impact from their investment into R&D, even when the assets aren’t commercially obvious or traditionally patentable.
IMPAC3T-IP tackles one of the biggest barriers to effective IP commercialisation: licensing inertia. Whether caused by complexity in negotiating terms, lack of market value, or structural inequities in access, these barriers can prevent otherwise valuable knowledge (from arts-based research to life-saving technologies) from reaching those who could benefit.
“The goal is simple,” explains Lisa Cowey, IMPAC3T-IP’s (META Group) Technical Coordinator. “We want to remove barriers to licensing, regardless of the type of asset or stage in the innovation process. That means giving professionals the tools to act early, negotiate smarter, and get results into the hands of users faster.”
At the heart of the initiative is a practical, digital toolbox tailored to three licensing scenarios:
- Classical Plus: Extending established licensing frameworks to cover non-traditional assets such as digital content, social sciences outputs, and creative works that are often overlooked due to their low financial value and patentability.
- Crisis: Facilitating flexible, equitable access-driven licensing strategies to improve access to medicines and medical technologies in health emergencies and long-term systemic challenges, especially in low- and middle-income countries.
- Co-creation: Supporting design and development involving multiple contributors with diverse interests and goals, helping to navigate intellectual asset ownership, fair licensing terms and sustainable routes to market.
As shared during a recent “Tea with ASTP” webinar, Lisa emphasised how scenario-based tools are particularly relevant for TTOs dealing with results from the non-STEM disciplines. For example, a behavioural science questionnaire that’s not commercially lucrative but could have real-world impact if made accessible under simple licensing terms (such as through a creative commons license). These are exactly the kinds of cases IMPAC3T-IP’s Classical Plus model is designed to support.
The accompanying IMPAC3T-IP training course, launching alongside the toolbox in December 2025, will offer structured training and certification for IP professionals across Europe and beyond. The programme will also be aligned with established professional development pathways such as the RTTP qualification.
Want to learn more? Join us at the upcoming LESI 2025 Pan-European Conference in The Hague (29–30 September), where IMPAC3T-IP will take part in discussions on evolving skills, equitable access licensing, and the role of smart tools in making IP work better for everyone.
About IMPAC3T-IP
IMPAC3T-IP is an EU-funded project that addresses scenario-based licensing for stakeholders in the IP value chain. The project is developing a toolbox and an associated training programme to support licensing in three key scenarios (Classical Plus, Crisis, Co-Creation).
The IMPAC3T IP project is a 3-year action funded by the European Commission which began in December 2023.
IMPAC3T-IP Partners:
META Group Srl (IT), Universidad de Alicante (ES), University College Dublin (IE), Demola (FI), Areopa, (BE), Atrineo (DE), ASTP (NL).
Associate Partner: e-Lucid (UK)
Visit IMPAC3T-IP website: www.impac3tip.eu
For more information contact Sara Martos, EU Projects Manager and Communications at sara.martos@astp4kt.eu.