IP and tech transfer

Protecting intellectual property (IP) is an essential activity for bioscience companies. The BIA supports members to do this by providing guidance on IP practice and policy, and advocates on behalf of the sector to the government, European Commission and the UK and EU courts.

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The Intellectual Property Advisory Committee (IPAC) leads the BIA’s policy development, drawing on the expertise and experience of the membership.

Our strong relationship with the UK Intellectual Property Office (IPO) and international connections ensure the UK biocience sector’s interests are supported in both UK and international jurisdictions. The UK has one of the most innovation-friendly patent protection regimes in the world.

IPAC helps shape the environment for IP ownership and ensures strong IP protection is available for member companies. The committee includes technical experts and IP professionals from member companies and experienced lawyers from the top private practice IP member firms.


IPAC Priorities
1. Connect
  • Invite guest speakers and connect to other BIA advisory committees to ensure IPAC are servicing the full BIA membership.
  • Complement the BIA’s work to expand into digital health and data by providing advice in these areas and continue to support BIA’s expanding and priority areas, incl. TechBio, engineering biology, deep biotech (non-health) and genomics. 
2. Inform/Support
  • Ensure strong IP protection is available to member companies in terms of influencing legal frameworks and advising member companies in the wider BIA community of appropriate strategies and considerations.
  • IPAC’s subcommittees monitor the IP landscape and raise important topics to IPAC of which the BIA Board and member companies need to be aware of, so it can voice its opinion on relevant and appropriate matters.
3. Expert Advice
  • Contribute on issues relevant to the life science industry where BIA has a unique perspective which should be heard.
  • Provide advice to BIA Board and BIA members on relevant IP developments to help them to take appropriate measures in response.
 
IPAC Chair and Vice-Chair
Michelle Jones

Michelle Jones

COO, Astex Pharmaceuticals

Jodie Albutt

Jodie Albutt

VP, Intellectual Property, QuellTX

Gareth Morgan

Gareth Morgan

Partner, Pinsent Masons

 
IPAC Members

Coming soon...


Improving technology transfer

The UK’s world-leading academic research community produces high-quality early-stage IP that can be developed and commercialised by the bioscience industry. The BIA works with our public, government, and industry partners to improve technology transfer. The Science and Innovation Community leads this work. 

The USIT Guide

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The UK’s potential as a science super-power has been given a significant boost with the launch of unique guidance that will accelerate and support the founding of a new generation of start-ups.

Leading investors and universities launched the USIT Guide to put rocket boosters under the way that the Higher Education sector spins out new companies that take advantage of research breakthroughs.