Single patent takes another step forward
Ministers from 24 countries signed the agreement establishing a single court to deal with patent disputes. It’s an important advance for the Single Patent – but now for the hard part - securing national ratification in time for the first patent to be granted in April 2014
Plotting the shifts in Europe’s innovation ecosystem
Academics, SMEs and large companies are doing much more research in partnership. Science|Business looks back at some of the highlights of the move to open innovation in 2012, and the policy initiatives that are supporting this
Single patent gets political nod
After more than four decades of negotiation, impasse and posturing, 25 member states agree to create a unitary patent. MEPs who voted for the move promise simplification, lower costs and time-saving for hard-pressed SMEs.
Final EU patent deal could be in reach
MEPs reached a tentative compromise with Member States this week on the Single Patent. All that’s needed now is for EU ministers give the proposal a nod in December and for the European Parliament to vote yes too
EU leaders in deadlock over European patent
As lawmakers in Brussels frantically look for ways to break the stalemate over the Single EU patent, Science|Business takes a closer look at the political and legal dispute
Time to remodel management of university IP
Traditional tech transfer makes it hard for industry to realise commercial potential, and for universities to maximise the value, of IP. A new approach pioneered by the University of Manitoba aims to change this, using IP to underpin collaboration, explains Digvir Jayas
EU Patent: Let’s get over the finishing line
Recent progress has been encouraging, but MEPs’ decision not to vote on the single European Patent leaves innovative businesses without the historic breakthrough they so desperately need, says Jonathan Zuck
Tech transfer rules: time for transition
The existing EU rules on tech transfer agreements may be intellectually stimulating for competition lawyers and economists, but they often make little sense to businesses. The current review by the Commission should lead to simplification, say Bristows' Pat Treacy and Osman Zafar
