ImpactLicensingInitiativeA Strategic Tool for Harnessing Technology and Data to Address Societal Challenges in Europe
Visit us on LinkedIn
Visit the Impact Licensing Initiative

Annual Stakeholder Event Highlights: Unlocking the Power of Impact Investment for European’s IP-Driven Innovation

The Annual Stakeholder Event in Brussels, co-organised by the Impact Licensing Initiative (ILI) and the European IP Helpdesk, brought together key stakeholders from research, policy, investment, and innovation. With a focus on intellectual property (IP) and impact investment, the event explored how IP strategies, financing models, and cross-sector collaboration can contribute to sustainable economic and social development.

For ILI, this event was an opportunity to facilitate discussions on how impact licensing can help bridge the gap between research, investment, and societal needs. As the project progresses, ILI will continue to engage with researchers, policymakers, investors, and businesses to develop and test practical tools and models that support impact-driven innovation.

The Role of Impact in Innovation Ecosystems

The event opened with a keynote address by Cliff Prior, which set the stage for discussions by highlighting the role of impact investment in global growth and innovation. He stressed the need to put impact at the core of investment decisions to help create a more sustainable future for people and the planet.

Building on this foundation, Jennifer Marzullo introduced insights from the upcoming ILI White Paper on impact licensing as a strategic tool for investment. The presentation explored how structured licensing frameworks can encourage investment while ensuring that publicly funded research translates into tangible societal benefits.

Bridging Innovation and Impact Investment

A key part of the event was the panel discussion, "Bridging Innovation and Impact Investment: Opportunities for IP-Driven Ventures", moderated by Christian Polman. The panel featured experts from different sectors, each providing perspectives on how IP, investment strategies, and impact-driven business models can work together:

  • Ioannis Sagias (DG Research & Innovation, European Commission) emphasized that impact has long been embedded in EU framework programs and remains a critical aspect of European research and innovation policy. He highlighted the need to align funding structures with societal impact and ensure that IP serves as a key channel for translating publicly funded research into real-world applications.
  • Jan Ronge (Solhyd), as an innovator and entrepreneur, shared insights on how his company, which emerged from a EU-funded research project, integrated impact licensing into its business model to ensure its hydrogen panel technology would be used for societal benefit from the outset. By granting an impact licence to a foundation, the company ensured long-term sustainability without compromising commercial viability.
  • Christl Joris (Gillès Foundation) provided an investor’s perspective, stressing the importance of financial mechanisms that prioritise long-term societal value over short-term returns. She emphasised that trust and transparency are essential in impact financing, requiring clear reporting mechanisms.
  • Natalia Mejía Pardo (The Data Tank) focused on data stewardship as a critical enabler for impact-driven innovation. She highlighted the importance of establishing data-sharing protocols early on, allowing for better measurement of societal impact and more informed investment decisions. The discussion highlighted how intellectual property, investment models, and data stewardship all play a role in supporting impact-driven innovation. Panellists emphasized the importance of balancing financial sustainability with societal benefit, ensuring that funding structures, policies, and innovation ecosystems work together to create meaningful and lasting impact.

Insights and Next Steps for Impact Licensing

Following the panel discussion, Johan Moyersoen, the coordinator of the project, and Cemresu Yücebalkan, the Project Manager of ILI, provided insights into the next steps for ILI and opportunities for stakeholder engagement. They outlined the project’s upcoming activities, including the development and validation of the Impact Licensing Toolkit, stakeholder consultations, and pilot initiatives that will test licensing models in real-world scenarios. They emphasised that collaboration remains at the heart of ILI, inviting stakeholders to actively participate in co-creation workshops, policy discussions, and demonstration projects. Their remarks reinforced the project’s commitment to ensuring that impact licensing becomes a practical and widely adopted tool for driving sustainable innovation.

Turning Discussions into Action

The event concluded with interactive group discussions, where participants explored practical steps to advance impact licensing. Key topics included how to balance economic and societal objectives in licensing strategies, develop financial mechanisms that support long-term impact, and foster stronger collaboration between policymakers, investors, and innovators. Discussions also highlighted the role of data in measuring and guiding impact-driven investments and strategies for structuring IP to attract investors while ensuring long-term sustainability. These final exchanges helped translate high-level discussions into concrete recommendations, reinforcing the importance of structured models, transparent financing mechanisms, and data-driven approaches in driving meaningful and lasting impact.

What’s Next?

The event may be over, but the work continues. How can we further integrate impact licensing and IP strategies into research and investment ecosystems? At ILI, we are committed to advancing these discussions and turning insights into action. We look forward to continuing this work and seeing these ideas take shape.