Intellectual Property

The ICR has a policy stating that IP should be protected and exploited “if the process can be shown to be of benefit to cancer patients and will therefore further The ICR’s mission to improve the treatment and diagnosis of cancer throughout the world.”

If knowledge is protected then The ICR is in control of how its knowledge is exploited. Publicising results could be the approach that best fits the ICR's mission, by getting the benefit to patients quicker. Alternatively, licensing to industry or setting up spin-out companies are options when publicizing results would not result in the benefit reaching the patient. Protection of IP enables us to choose the most appropriate route and gives the ICR control over its own knowledge. Partnerships with industry can provide the resources which enable the clinical development and manufacturing of a product resulting from an initial discovery. 

Collaborative research can benefit both parties scientifically and will provide an additional source of revenue for the ICR. By ensuring that valuable technologies are utilized to their maximum potential, the Enterprise Unit is helping the ICR to achieve its mission: to disseminate its research results to as wide a patient population as possible.