ILI at the ASTP Annual Conference 2025

On 21 May 2025, the Impact Licensing Initiative (ILI) took part in the ASTP Annual Conference in Vilnius, contributing to one of the morning pre-conference sessions with an interactive workshop dedicated to impact licensing and its role in societal valorisation. Moderated by Ivana Vuka, the session brought together more than 60 participants, a great turnout for the pre-conference day and a clear sign of growing interest in new IP valorisation pathways.

The session opened with an introduction to the principles of impact licensing, presented by Johan Moyersoen and Bruno Vandermeulen. They shared insights into how this approach can open new pathways for valorising intellectual assets, focusing on two tools currently in development within the ILI project: a Quality Label for Impact Licensing and the concept of Clearing Houses to help identify and screen technologies with strong societal potential. They also presented real-life examples of how impact licensing is being applied in practice, making it easier to envision how different technologies can be repurposed for new use.

The discussion then moved into four smaller breakout groups for a hands-on workshop. Guided by Johan, Bruno, Smiljka Vikic Topic, and Bruna Pausic, participants explored real-world challenges and opportunities related to screening technologies and operationalising clearing house mechanisms. The level of engagement showed a real interest for practical, impact-oriented licensing tools, especially from technology transfer officers and others working at the intersection of research and innovation.

In the final part of the session, Ivana Vuka presented policy recommendations developed as part of ILI’s contribution to shaping the next EU Framework Programme (FP10). Participants were invited to vote on key recommendation areas and share their perspectives, making this segment both reflective and forward-looking.

The session closed with an open invitation to join the ILI Community of Practice and continue the conversation around inclusive, responsible IP strategies.

ILI’s participation at ASTP 2025 underscored the value of connecting with the community of technology transfer professionals and co-creating tools that can make real change. We thank ASTP for the opportunity and look forward to keeping up the momentum!