Exploitation or Partnership?

Abstract

The author proposes a model for university—industry partnership which, in particular, takes a different approach to intellectual property rights from current policy in the UK. He argues that the prevailing attitude to IPR, while attempting to generate rewards for the academics, actually reduces the rewards they receive. He also suggests that contract research is assuming too high a priority and that universities are in danger of being deflected from their key roles of educating students and advancing knowledge. The exploitation of intellectual ability, he argues, does not equal the exploitation of intellectual property rights, and a focus on the latter in the universities is counterproductive to stimulating collaboration. The approach proposed is that currently employed successfully in the Smith Institute, a collaborative venture between the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge and Smith System Engineering.