Revitalising European Inventiveness: Recommendations for the European Commission 2019-2024

The new European Commission will be facing a significant set of global, regional and European challenges. One of these will be to help reinvigorate the European economy and to ensure that the benefits of competitive forces flow to European society and citizens. In this Note we highlight recommendations to support European inventiveness and innovation. Invention and innovation are forces that stand at the foundation of Europe’s economic potential. In particular, this Note focuses on the role of patent rights and does so for two reasons; they are the basis of many of the value chains identified by the Commission and Member States as core to the EU’s future welfare; and they are the rights that require the most rigorous assessments before being recognised and protected.

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Summary of Recommendations

1. In boosting the European innovation ecosystem, the European Commission must factor in the global geo-political dynamics.

2. The Commission must boost higher education and skills in Europe to promote undergraduate and postgraduate research efforts and rival world-leading universities.

3. The European IPR framework must be at the core of the Commission’s innovation strategy, given the role of IP protection in attracting risk investment and in the development of value chains.

4. The Commission should ensure a more sophisticated understanding of intangible assets in the investment community and ensure that IPRs are reflected in the valuation and balance sheets of companies.

5. Greater knowledge and technology transfer should be built into Europe’s Horizon 2020, based on private sector principles. In that context the ‘open science’ approach should be undertaken on a case-by-case basis, so as not to undermine the ability of European universities or public research organisations from engaging in technology transfer or seeking to access private funding.

6. Where foreign industrial policies affect the European market, the Commission should ensure a level playing field and not undermine the ability of European companies to invest in the creation of fundamental technologies e.g. on 5G standards evolution.

7. Where different industries come together to create new value chains, the Commission should help to develop a mutual understanding of industrial priorities between sectors, in order to ensure innovation and growth.

8. The European Commission should apply pragmatic solutions to prevent forced technology transfer or IPR drain from European companies in third countries.

9. The European Commission should be a leading promoter within and outside the EU for the respect for property rights, the rule of law and access to courts. In that context, the European Commission should continue to promote the setting up of the Unified Patent Court and more unified patent protection within the EU. 10. Where engaging in policy formulation or regulation affecting patent rights, the European Commission should reinforc ...

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