Greater awareness of IP management issues focus of forthcoming Quebec report

Last report from CST

Quebec may take the lead in encouraging open innovation and strengthening the management of intellectual property (IP) emanating from its universities, colleges and research centres if the recommendations of a forthcoming report are adopted and implemented by government. The report is the last official task of the Conseil des sciences et de la technologie (CST) before it is dissolved as announced in the last provincial Budget (R$, July 19/10).

The CST held a workshop in Boucherville February 14th to determine what steps might be taken to boost the awareness of IP issues and encourage small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to work closer with Quebec-based universities and research centres.

The proposals presented for consideration included the creation of a formal alliance for action between companies, universities and research centres, increased training including mandatory IP management courses for all science and engineering students in the province, assistance for SMEs on IP issues and standardized clauses for use in IP contract negotiations.

"If we want to integrate the best practices of open innovation we need better IP management and flow between universities to SMEs," says Sylvie Dillard, president of the CST. "There are limitations to technology transfer. It needs to be part of a more holistic approach."

The decision to explore the improvement of IP management stems from a CST report on open innovation which identified 12 challenges for integrating the best practices. The CST committee charged with generating the IP report was chaired by Dillard and Dr André Bazergui, former CEO of the Consortium for Research and Innovation in Aerospace in Quebec (CRIAQ) and a major contributor to the new Quebec Research and Innovation Strategy (QRIS). With the completion of consultations and the workshop, the report will be finalized and submitted to the government in April.

The QRIS noted that, despite strong support for research and innovation, greater innovation and cooperation among innovation partners is essential to boost Quebec's relatively low productivity. It pointed to the absence of an innovation culture among SMEs and the importance of greater strategic engagement.

"There's a lack of interest and comprehension in IP management issues by SMEs … They don't see the big picture," says Dillard, who is retiring from the provincial public service this week. "There's no demand from SMEs so there's low competency. Awareness is the first step."

One concept that may be explored further is the notion of establishing legal clinics where SMEs could go for advice. Organizations that might be tapped for offering the service include the National research Council and the Quebec Association of Industrial Research (ADRIQ).

student awareness of ip needs to be increased

Greater awareness among university graduates was also a key focus of discussion. The concept of mandatory IP management training for all graduates in science and engineering appears to have some traction, although it could prove challenging to implement for students that already have full course loads. As well, universities typically lack the necessary expertise to provide such training.

"It's a good idea. Students are often at a loss when it comes to their rights and status when producing IP. Some universities are upfront while others are rather poor in informing students," says Dr Alex Navarre, VP Numinor Conseil Inc, a consulting and management training firm, and former head of NSERC-Quebec who attended the workshop. "If students work for industry, they must sign papers but they should get advice before signing. Right now they usually get nothing. But if you add one course, you have to drop another so the academic world may fight this"

Dillard agrees, adding that other countries are adding IP management to post-secondary instruction. However, she says there is no consensus on making such training compulsory.

"IP is an essential component of innovation and, ultimately, entrepreneurship and should be a part of innovation management and training," she says. "It may be possible to work through the engineering schools, industry and professional organizations to develop programs."

École de technologie supérieure and École Polytechnique de Montréal are among the few Quebec-based universities offering any courses on entrepreneurship and IP management and they are currently optional.

alliance debated

Whether an alliance for IP management can be realized was the subject of considerable debate and differences of opinion. While Dillard says there was strong consensus for such an initiative, it's unclear who will take the lead. The government appears to be eager for the university community and industry to flesh out the concept.

But Navarre says those sectors lack the capacity and there was little clarity over exactly what form the alliance may take.

"There was not clear how the alliance would be structured nor its mode of governance," he says, adding that the workshop was the first time the issue has been floated publicly.

Dillard notes that the issue has been the subject of considerable attention in the past including the 2003 Lambert Review of Business-University Collaboration in the UK and the Coalition for Action on Innovation in Canada last year (R$, October 14/10).

"We think it would be good for dealing with concrete and pragmatic problems and help change Quebec's branding for research, excellence and cooperation," says Dillard. "There's a large consensus about the need for an alliance but concern about it being just another forum that does nothing. … It must be a creation of the partners, not just government, and led by universities, companies and research centres."

The introduction of innovation vouchers may be one mechanism for encouraging SMEs to embrace IP management practices. But Dillard says the alliance must be formed before any specific initiatives can be contemplated.

With the completion of the IP management report, the CST will have completed its outstanding activities and will be dissolved. The government has yet to pass the necessary legislation but are moving forward on the creation of a strategic council on science and innovation. It will be headed by a person from outside government with secretariat support from the Ministry of Economic Development, Innovation and Export Trade.

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