Stronger support for innovative life scientists

[NEWS 3 September 2012] The future looks bright for inventive life scientists. Uppsala University and Karolinska Institutet will strengthen their collaboration on innovation support and in offering advice to researchers wishing to protect their ideas. Life scientists at other academic institutions will also benefit from this new joint venture.

The innovation offices at Uppsala University and Karolinska Institutet have long cooperated to promote a positive and dynamic development of the life-science sector in the region and in Sweden as a hole. This new, augmented innovation support scheme will further strengthens this partnership. A unique cooperation agreement has been signed to create a patent advisory position that will be shared by both universities.

"This opportunity means a great deal to Karolinska Institutet," says Bo-Ragnar Tolf, director of Karolinska Institutets Innovation Office. "We have wanted to enhance our patent advisory service for some time. Hopefully it is not only researchers here and at Uppsala who will benefit - our goal is to serve life scientists at other academic institutions as well."

Although the innovation offices already offer support to researchers with ideas, a need was recognised for developing their services in novelty of findings, patents and funding matters.

"A growing number of researchers are realising that they can and should commercialise their results," says Lars Jonsson, director of UU Innovation. "Creating effective patent protection for their ideas is often crucial to their success. So this initiative feels strategically the right way to go."

There are also plans to expand this partnership even more, including further strengthening life science in the region connected with SciLifeLab.

For further details, see the universities' websites:

• ki.se/innovationoffice
• uuinnovation.uu.se

For more information, contact: