University-Industry Collaboration and Technology Transfer

By Mr Ben Rapinoja and Ms Aura Soininen

Universities lie in the core of successful, leading economies in the world. They have traditionally been thought of as the places for higher education and basic research, but serve increasingly also other than purely public interests. Particularly U.S. universities are actively pushing the commercialisation of their inventions through spin-offs, and technology and patent licensing. The political agenda of stimulating collaboration between universities and the industry, technology transfer and commercialisation of university-born inventions can also be perceived in Europe. New legislation regarding the ability of universities to hold shares in companies has been issued in Finland, for example, and another legislative change is on its way. In December 2004, the Finnish government submitted a proposal for a new Act on university inventions. The Act aims at diminishing difficulties concerning the distribution of intellectual property