ImPact @ NOVA: Protect, Publish, Profit – Navigating IP in Academia
Value proposal
The academic ecosystem is increasingly intertwined with innovation and entrepreneurial activities. As researchers explore solutions with real-world impact, the ability to protect, manage, and valorise their intellectual assets becomes essential. Intellectual property (IP) plays a vital role in translating research into social, economic, and technological value.
This seminar-workshop aims to build a vibrant IP-conscious culture within NOVA University Lisbon by offering researchers and students the knowledge, tools, and confidence to make informed decisions about IP and research valorisation. Through a day of guided sessions, real-life case discussions, and interactive workshops, participants will engage with IP professionals and gain practical insights to better navigate their innovation journey.
Objectives and purpose
This seminar-workshop is designed to raise awareness within the NOVA academic community about the strategic importance of IP in research and innovation. As researchers increasingly engage in activities with commercial, societal, and technological impact, understanding how to manage and protect intellectual assets becomes essential. The event aims to equip participants with a foundational understanding of different types of IP, including patents, copyrights, and trade secrets, while also addressing practical aspects of protection strategies in various fields of knowledge.
A central objective is to familiarise participants with NOVA’s internal policies and procedures related to IP, such as how to disclose inventions, seek support, and navigate institutional guidelines. In addition to offering theoretical knowledge, the event provides hands-on, field-specific workshops that explore how IP applies in areas like biotechnology, computer science, engineering, and digital technologies. These sessions encourage dialogue between researchers and IP professionals, offering a space for discussing real challenges faced during the innovation process, from protecting software to balancing open science with patenting goals.
The event also seeks to foster a culture of innovation and proactive engagement with IP within NOVA, empowering participants to make informed decisions, safeguard their outputs, and maximise the impact of their research through appropriate valorisation strategies.
This event is exclusively intended for members of the NOVA University Lisbon community, including faculty, researchers, postdoctoral fellows, doctoral students, science and innovation managers, and other technical or administrative staff involved in research support. Master’s students from NOVA may also participate, subject to the availability of seats and relevance to their academic or professional background. Participation is limited to those affiliated with NOVA, ensuring that the content is aligned with the university’s internal procedures, resources, and support structures. Prior registration is required.