IPOB Research

IPOB Research is a Tekes supported research project in the Liito programme for the period of 1.9.2008 – 28.2.2011. The project is being carried out in an interdisciplinary, international research consortium consisting of:

• VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland (VTT)

  
  

• University of Eastern Finland, Department of Law (UEF)

  
  

• Rotterdam School of Management at Erasmus University (RSM)

  
  

• Munich Intellectual Property Law Center (MIPLC)

  
  

IPOB Research project aims to answer to the six key questions below by gaining a holistic understanding to IP strategy and management in open business models.

1. What aspects of intellectual property law and what types of intellectual property rights support or discourage open business model and innovation?

   
   

2. What tools are available for the companies to harness or ameliorate the support or hazards from IP law to adopt open business model?

   
   

3. What kind of IP strategy a company should use at different stages of technology life cycle?

   
   

4. What kind of IP management approach is effective for parties in a value network at different roles in order to gain business from technology based services?

   
   

5. How to form and manage an innovation network so that new business ideas are developed through networking or collaboration?

   
   

6. How to ensure the commitment of partners?

   
   

The major goals will be reached through an interdisciplinary approach including three interlinked research tracks: legal, business and networking.

An important part of the work is an interview study of current practices about how intellectual property (IP) is managed in inter-organisational relationships. About 20 organisations are being interviewed in Finland and about 20 in the Netherlands.

Finally, a generic tool box for IP strategy and management in open business models will be developed where all important factors and criteria are incorporated. Using the tools, companies can select and maintain an ideal IP management policy and create agreement satisfying all partners of an innovation network in question and by this way to promote the openness and effectiveness of innovation network.

IPOB Research is co-ordinated by VTT. In addition, VTT brings its expertise on technology R&D work, on business network formation and development, and on the risk management of innovation and new business development for the project. UEF offers its expertise in business contracting and comparative IP-law. RSM brings its expertise on international business and innovation management for the project. MIPLC brings its expertise on IP law for the project.

Jaakko Paasi
Project co-ordinator
+358 20 722 3758
jaakko.paasi@vtt.fi