BFH strengthens innovation by clearly regulating intellectual property rights

To mark World Intellectual Property Day, Bern University of Applied Sciences (BFH) is emphasising its efforts to promote innovation and cooperation. In research projects, BFH staff work closely with partners from business, society and culture. Particular attention is paid to the regulation of intellectual property rights that arise in these projects.

Intellectual property rights include rights to intangible assets such as inventions, works, designs and trademarks. BFH pursues an Open Science Strategy, according to which the results are primarily intended to serve the general public. Nevertheless, in certain cases partners may be granted different rights of use based on the Intellectual Property Policy and the BFH Policy on Knowledge and Technology Transfer.

Three IP models

To facilitate the handling of intellectual property rights, BFH offers three IP models: IP Retention, IP Sharing and IP Transfer. These models regulate the ownership, utilisation and exploitation of intellectual property in research projects:

• IP Retention: the project results belong to BFH, regardless of who developed them. This means that BFH is the owner of the intellectual property and may sell or license it to its spin-offs or partners, or make it available to the general public.
• IP Sharing: the project results belong to the party that developed them. Jointly developed project results belong to all parties involved. BFH and/or the partners are the owners of the intellectual property. The rights of use and licence terms apply as negotiated.
• IP Transfer: the project results belong to the partner, regardless of who developed them. In other words, the partner is the owner of the intellectual property. BFH transfers all rights to the partner.

BFH encourages staff, students and alumni to combine their capacity for research and innovation with entrepreneurial activities, with the aim of generating social, cultural and economic added value. In the scope of the strategic initiative ‘Enterprising University’, BFH offers various support options, including access to experts, infrastructure, funding and coaching programmes.

Intellectual property rights for founders

All BFH schools have designated contact persons for the area of ‘Enterprising University’. Further information can be found on the BFH Entrepreneurship Office website.

BFH is committed to handling intellectual property rights in a way that is favourable to startup founders and is actively committed to facilitating the transfer of IP to newly founded companies.