Impact-Oriented Funding in Action: ILI and MPP Bring Together Leading Foundations to Shape EU Policy

On 10 June 2025, the Impact Licensing Initiative (ILI) and the Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) jointly organised a workshop focusing on inclusive access, societal impact and strategic licensing, and bringing together a unique group of philanthropic funders and policy actors. Hosted by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Research and Innovation (DG RTD), the session formed part of the ILI's wider endeavour to validate and refine policy recommendations for the forthcoming 10th EU Framework Programme (FP10).

This event was especially noteworthy due to the attendance of leading global and European foundations, including the Wellcome Trust, the Gates Foundation, Unitaid, the Compagnia di San Paolo Foundation, the Stiftung Mercator Foundation, the Novo Nordisk Foundation and others, who openly discussed the role of data, intellectual property (IP) governance and equity in grant-making. At an ILI-hosted forum for the first time, funders explored how their individual practices align and considered how shared approaches to impact licensing could catalyse broader systemic change.

Listening Mode Meets Actionable Insight

Ioannis Sagias, Deputy Head of Unit for Valorisation Policies and IPR, opened the session by reiterating the importance of incorporating societal value creation into FP10 and emphasising that now is the time to establish the future frameworks for research and innovation (R&I). He and other representatives from the European Commission emphasised the role of ILI and its partners in translating high-level knowledge valorisation policy into practice and in providing the EU with concrete mechanisms for societal impact through IP.

Impact Licensing in Practice

Johan Moyersoen and Bruno Vandermeulen from the Impact Licensing Initiative (ILI) introduced the three key principles of impact licensing: intentionality, additionality and measurability. They then illustrated how these principles are applied in real-world technology transfer examples across sectors, including agriculture, health and energy. With the backing of foundations and impact investors, the ILI is scaling up ventures that deliver economic and societal value, demonstrating that hybrid models are not only feasible, but also urgently required.

Data as a Driver of Philanthropic Strategy

The data session, moderated by Natalia Meija Pardo from The Data Tank, highlighted that foundations are increasingly viewing data as a driver of strategic decision-making, not just an accountability tool. Hilel Dridi from Fondazione Compagnia di San Paolo presented their data strategy, which drives change across four areas: decision-making, transparency, innovation and data culture. Phil Reckermann from Stiftung Mercator then reflected on the operational and cultural barriers that foundations face when implementing shared measurement systems.

Embedding Equitable Access in Practice: Lessons from Leading Health Funders

During one of the workshop's core sessions, Andrew Goldman from the Medicines Patent Pool led a structured discussion with representatives from Unitaid, the Gates Foundation, and the Wellcome Trust. The discussion focused on how funders incorporate access conditions into their funding and licensing strategies to ensure that technologies reach underserved populations. Andrew began by providing a brief overview of MPP's approach, which involves using voluntary licensing and technology transfer to improve the affordability and availability of medical technologies in low- and middle-income countries. He then introduced the idea of integrating access considerations at an earlier stage in the research and funding lifecycle.

Kristen Dorman from Unitaid explained how they adapt access commitments according to the type of support provided, employing flexible mechanisms such as cost-plus pricing, transparency clauses and IP step-in rights. Lauren Sullivan of the Gates Foundation emphasised the importance of embedding equitable access from the outset through data sharing, royalty-free licensing in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and coordinated long-term planning across R&D partners. Katherine Anastasi-Frankovics from the Wellcome Trust presented their pragmatic, phased approach starting with soft obligations, which are then strengthened as products advance. Financial upside-sharing and step-in rights are also employed to ensure follow-through. These insights together demonstrated how funders are turning principles into enforceable practices.

Broader Reflections from Participating Foundations

Following the main panel, several other foundations offered brief reflections. Charlotte Kammer Garde from the Novo Nordisk Foundation highlighted their increasing focus on global access, mentioning initiatives such as the BioInnovation Institute (BII) and the NIVI Centre, while also acknowledging the legal limitations surrounding licensing rights. Antonio Capillo (Mastercard Foundation) emphasised the importance of clear definitions of impact and structured pathways to achieve it. Christ’l Joris (Gillès Foundation) emphasised the importance of trust-based funding and support for initiatives that fly under the radar, including ILI itself. Maggie Flanagan (Lemelson Foundation) emphasised the importance of early engagement with local ecosystems to ensure long-term, locally rooted impact.

A Shared Learning Agenda

Throughout the day, it became clear that strategic licensing, equitable access and data stewardship are no longer peripheral concerns; they are becoming core pillars of responsible and forward-looking funding. The workshop concluded with a commitment to continued collaboration, including the formation of joint working groups and peer learning initiatives, with the aim of aligning philanthropic practices with public research policy. As ILI and its partners refine their policy recommendations for FP10 and beyond, engaging in dialogue with philanthropic organisations will be crucial in shaping a more inclusive, impact-oriented European innovation landscape.

For ILI, the workshop reaffirmed that it is possible to move from good intentions to concrete tools when diverse funders and policymakers come together—and to reimagine how IP and innovation can serve society and the market.