Research does not just create knowledge, it can drive real change. Through different perspectives, experts working at the intersection of research, innovation and knowledge transfer recently came together to highlight and discuss how research can create societal and economic value. What became clear was the importance of collective engagement, thoughtful use of intellectual property, and early alignment between partners in generating impact. They also showed how small-scale projects can lead to meaningful societal benefits. These reflections, shared during the launch of the IMPAC3T-IP Toolbox, are summarised here in seven key takeaways:
1. Impact requires a collective ecosystem effort
Impact cannot be achieved by researchers alone. Generating societal value requires everyone involved in the process: from citizens to industry, but also public authorities and other stakeholders at different levels. As Alessandro Fazio, Head of the Joint Research Centre‘s Competence Centre on Technology Transfer at the European Commission stressed: “Put the public and the private sector together around the shared research agenda, so that you don’t end up simply with a package of solutions looking for a problem, but with a body of knowledge that already has built-in impact pathways because the industry is already involved.”
2. Societal impact and economic value can coexist
Presenting societal and economic objectives as two opposite goals is a false dilemma. Both goals can coexist, and it is not a matter of advancing one goal over the other, but of thinking about both goals working together. Andrew Goldman, Senior Advisor at the Medicines Patent Pool, underlined: “I do not think this is the right way to think about it. You need to think holistically about these things.” When approached together, both can reinforce each other.
3. IP is a means, not the end
Intellectual Property (IP) is not an outcome in itself. During the conference, it was framed as an enabler of licensing, collaboration, investment and societal uptake and impact. It should not be considered as something that exists in isolation, but rather something that might later be used for impact. Bruno Vandermeulen, Senior IP expert at Impact Licensing Initiative (ILI) warned against using the term “second life” for IP: “This is dangerous because it would mean that the first life has to end first. (…) IP only has one life; you should already be thinking about these uses.”
4. Co-creation requires alignment from the start
Co-created initiatives face huge challenges when participating companies or actors are not aligned on objectives and expectations from the beginning. When goals diverge or remain implicit, co-creation efforts can quickly lead to misunderstandings or conflicts and end up threatening the project as a whole. Panellists emphasised that trust, transparency, and mutual understanding must be actively designed early in the co-creation process. The IMPAC3T-IP Toolbox provides frameworks, templates, and agreement models to clarify roles, expectations, and value-sharing mechanisms before issues arise.
5. Small-scale research can generate significant societal impact
Impactful outcomes are not limited to large-scale or big technological projects. Small research teams can create substantial societal impact when results are effectively supported, scaled, or embedded into broader policy or societal frameworks.
The KiVa anti-bullying programme developed by researchers from Finland is a good example: commissioned by the Finnish government, it resulted in measurable reduced levels of bullying. Through licensing, the programme was later transferred and adapted to other countries. Reflecting on similar experiences within the IMPAC3T–IP project, Lisa Cowey, technical coordinator of IMPAC3T-IP, made the parallel with donations during US elections: “We had some big donors that gave massive amounts of money, and we had an awful lot of individuals that gave $10. I think what we need inside the community is an awful lot of individual researchers who say I could do that. And you end up with a sea change happening at a lower level.”
6. Medical and health sector: Equitable access is not about free pricing
In the medical and health sector, equitable access to research results in society is not just a matter of low prices or making things free. Even if prices are low or non-existent, impact depends on other factors: appropriate licensing terms, manufacturing rights, local knowledge transfer, and pre-planned deployment mechanisms that are essential elements to ensure research outputs reach those who need them most.
7. IMPAC3T-IP is a practical tool to facilitate licensing across Europe
The IMPAC3T-IP Toolbox supports researchers, universities, Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs), Knowledge Transfer Offices (KTOs) and other innovation stakeholders in licensing and exploiting research results across Europe. It provides guidance to help users understand, manage, and deploy intellectual assets in different licensing contexts. The aim is to maximise societal impact. The toolbox is structured around three scenarios:
- Classical Plus: the idea is to support TTOs, KTOs and licensing professionals in rethinking traditional approaches beyond purely commercial metrics.
- Crisis: with this scenario, the toolbox aims to allow equitable and timely access to critical technologies or medicines during emergencies.
- Co-creation: in this case, the toolbox aims to guide multiple actors working together to co-create and innovate, sharing risks, assets, and value.
Across these scenarios, IMPAC3T-IP seeks to remove barriers to licensing and support more effective and broader impact through licensing.
IMPAC3T-IP Academy registrations are open
IMPAC3T-IP officially launched the IMPAC3T-IP Academy on 5 of February. The aim is to provide toolbox users with the skills to properly leverage the tools at their disposal. There are two types of workshops:
- Certified user workshops, designed for people interested in how to use the toolbox.
- Certified trainer workshops, designed for the professionals who want to train their clients or partners to use the toolbox. Don’t miss our next training courses and apply here.
The event panels are available online here.