A series of recent events in Brussels placed knowledge valorisation, intellectual property (IP) management and the translation of research results into practical applications at the centre of European discussions. The events provided valuable opportunities to exchange experiences, showcase innovative approaches and explore how Europe can strengthen the economic and societal impact of research and innovation.
The discussions took place across several events, including the IMPAC3T-IP Final Conference, the European Commission's Knowledge Valorisation Cluster Event and the IP4OS Policy Summit, highlighting different but complementary approaches to bridging the gap between research excellence and real-world impact. At the IMPAC3T-IP Final Conference, discussions focused on how licensing practices can evolve to better support the exploitation and wider uptake of research results. During the panel discussion “From Tools to Practice and the Need to Scale Effective Licensing”, Claire Fritz from EURICE Group shared perspectives on translating innovative licensing approaches into practical solutions and strengthening their adoption across the European innovation ecosystem.
The discussions continued the following day at the European Commission’s Knowledge Valorisation Cluster Event,“ Knowledge Valorisation in Action: From Results to Policy”, which brought together Horizon Europe projects, policymakers and knowledge transfer professionals to share practical experience sand discuss how research results can create market, societal and policy impact. The event also connected the new knowledge valorisation projects starting in 2026 with initiatives already underway. This allowed the new projects to learn from existing experience, identify opportunities for collaboration and shape their activities in ways that complement ongoing work.
Several initiatives in which EURICE Group is actively involved, including Booster, IAM4RE.eu, VOICE and the European IP Helpdesk, were represented at the event, bringing complementary perspectives on strengthening knowledge valorisation across Europe. Together, these initiatives support different stages of the innovation journey, from dissemination and exploitation to intellectual asset management, capacity building and participatory innovation. EURICE Group also took part through its two new projects, KnowVaLte and ALL4KV, which provided an opportunity to engage with other projects and identify potential areas for collaboration. During the dedicated session “Bringing Research Results to Society”, VOICE – Valorising Artist-led Innovation through Citizen Engagement showcased how arts and cultural practices can contribute to innovation and societal impact. Anita McKeown from Future Focus21c and Lizbeth Goodman from SMARTLAB@University College Dublin shared experiences of engaging artists, researchers, citizens and cultural institutions in co-creation processes. Their contributions highlighted the potential of participatory approaches, living labs and cross-disciplinary collaboration to address societal challenges and strengthen the uptake of research results. The following week, the IP4OS Policy Summit added another important dimension to the discussions, bringing together more than 100 participants in a hybrid format at the CSIC Brussels Office. The summit explored how intellectual property, open science and AI-driven innovation can be better aligned to strengthen Europe's innovation capacity and ensure that research excellence translates into broader economic and societal value.
Through expert discussions and practical examples from European universities, participants examined the relationship between openness and innovation, institutional governance challenges and approaches to supporting knowledge exchange and value creation. These exchanges also contributed to the subsequent STOA workshop at the European Parliament, further connecting practical experiences with ongoing European policy discussions.
Across the events, a common message emerged: successful knowledge valorisation requires more than protecting intellectual assets or transferring technologies. Understanding societal and market needs, engaging potential users early and creating opportunities for collaboration are equally important in ensuring that research results lead to meaningful and sustainable outcomes.
The representation of the main EU IP initiatives also demonstrated the diversity of support mechanisms available across the European innovation ecosystem. By combining expertise in intellectual asset management, exploitation strategies, capacity building and stakeholder engagement, these initiatives contribute to creating more effective pathways for research results to reach industry, policymakers and society.
Ultimately, the exchanges in Brussels reinforced the importance of connecting policy with practice and knowledge with real-world needs. Turning research excellence into lasting impact depends not only on generating new knowledge, but also on strengthening collaboration and creating the conditions for innovative solutions to be adopted, scaled and sustained.