Later this month, the EU-funded IMPAC3T-IP initiative will join IP and licensing leaders at the LESI Pan-European Conference in The Hague. The project will take part in a roundtable on how licensing deals can deliver broader impact, and whether that requires more refined professional skills, more specialised tools, or both.
The session, facilitated by IMPAC3T-IP’s technical coordinator Lisa Cowey, will explore the relationship between tools and training in today’s fast-changing licensing environment. The debate comes at a time when many Technology Transfer Offices (TTOs) and public research organisations are under pressure to deliver results from diverse outputs, not just commercially strong patents.
At the heart of IMPAC3T-IP’s contribution is its scenario-based toolbox, due to launch later this year. Built around three distinct contexts (‘Classical Plus’, ‘Crisis’, and ‘Co-creation’), the digital toolkit provides structured pathways for licensing professionals to deal with assets that are often neglected or where traditional models fall short.
- Classical Plus extends existing frameworks to include lower-value or non-patentable assets, from digital content to behavioural science questionnaires.
- Crisis addresses equitable licensing in health emergencies, including access to medicines and medical technologies in low- and middle-income countries.
- Co-creation supports licensing across multi-party collaborations, helping to manage ownership, balance interests, and sustain long-term outcomes.
For LESI’s global community of professionals, this kind of structured, scenario-based resource is particularly relevant. LESI positions itself as the go-to platform for executives commercialising intellectual assets across industries, helping them keep pace with fast-changing developments while providing space for practical exchange. A toolkit that makes it easier to navigate under-served assets, emergency access models, or complex co-creation deals speaks directly to the day-to-day challenges of licensing professionals and complements LESI’s long-standing focus on continuous education and global networking.
This interplay (toolkits versus skills) will be the centre of discussion at The Hague. For some, better-trained professionals are the answer. For others, the emphasis should be on smarter, scenario-based models that lower transaction costs and reduce complexity. Most agree that the two must go hand in hand.
IMPAC3T-IP is also developing a structured training programme aligned with RTTP professional standards, to be rolled out in parallel with the toolbox. Taken together, these resources aim to expand the licensing repertoire available to professionals while ensuring consistency in practice.
The wider debate at LESI will feed into ongoing discussions on how IP frameworks need to adapt to cover underserved disciplines, emerging markets, and equitable access concerns. By positioning its scenario-based toolkit alongside structured training, IMPAC3T-IP underlines the need for licensing professionals to act earlier in the process, negotiate with greater clarity, and move results into the hands of users more efficiently.
The roundtable ‘Negotiating broader impact from licensing deals: a need for refined skills or specialised tools?’ takes place on Tuesday 30 September at 16:30 CEST.
This roundtable is part of the broader LES Pan-European Conference, hosted by LES Benelux as part of its 50th-anniversary celebrations. Taking place in The Hague on 29–30 September 2025, the event brings together licensing and IP professionals from across Europe to explore how diverse forms of IP, from artistic expression to high-technology innovations, can sustain economic growth and align with EU sustainability goals. For the full programme, speaker details and registration, visit the official conference website.