European University Association says EU legislation should support broad societal innovation beyond commercialisation
The EU’s upcoming European Innovation Act should help to create a “shared innovation culture” in recognition of the “essential” role of universities and their broad aims, according to the European University Association.
The EUA published a policy note on 6 July outlining its hopes for the legislation, plans for which are expected to be presented by the European Commission this year, having been delayed from the first quarter.
The act is intended to help commercialise research results and innovations, including by better linking academia and companies. But the EUA note says commercialisation is not the only incentive for innovation actors, with some—including many universities and students—wanting to achieve other forms of societal benefit.
“As the first major piece of EU legislation solely dedicated to innovation, the European Innovation Act is an opportunity to acknowledge universities’ needs and challenges, not just those of industry,” the note says.
“The involvement of all actors across society is necessary,” it adds, arguing that Europe needs “a shared innovation culture that rewards…wide-ranging contributions to society [through] varied innovation practices”.
Universities “are uniquely well positioned to align innovation with societal benefit”, it says, adding that the act should support innovations aimed at processes and organisations as well as more commercially oriented products and services.
Specific recommendations
The EUA note calls for more support for the development of innovation knowledge and capacity at universities, including among support staff and students.
“The contribution of innovation professionals, technology transfer specialists, entrepreneurs-in-residence and business developers should be explicitly recognised as part of Europe’s innovation capacity,” it says.
Such contributions can be developed “exceptionally well” by supporting mobility between academia and the private sector, it says, calling for “flexible, supportive career frameworks” and the removal of administrative barriers to movement.
Entrepreneurship should be promoted to students in varied disciplines by focusing on cross-cutting skills such as networking and creative thinking, it adds, rather than just on profit generation.
The act should also provide clarity on how university-generated intellectual property can be used most effectively, such as by providing additional guidance, while recognising that some forms of innovation have important impacts without generating IP, according to the note.
In addition, it calls for help for innovators to use patents generated by EU-funded research projects, suggesting there should be “more consistent…follow-up”.
The legislation and EU actions should recognise that innovation systems across Europe are at different levels of maturity, including by avoiding single approaches and supporting transfer of good practice, it adds.
