Redefining European research through collaborative innovation
The EU-funded IP4OS(opens in new window) project is transforming how research is utilised. Launched in 2025, the project’s core objective is to help professionals and organisations unlock the full potential of FAIR research outputs – making them findable, accessible, interoperable and reusable – to deliver tangible benefits for society, the economy and the environment. By cultivating a sustainable and collaborative European research landscape, IP4OS will ensure that knowledge transcends disciplinary and sectoral boundaries, accelerating innovation and securing Europe’s position as a global leader.
Building research capacity
For this purpose, the project has launched a practice-oriented capacity-building programme targeting universities, research institutes and other bodies conducting research. The programme supports these organisations in applying a concerted intellectual property (IP) and open science (OS) approach to transform research results, data and know-how into practical, market-ready solutions that have social and economic value. Based on the IP4OS Synergy Core Curriculum and the knowledge consolidated in its Synergy Framework(opens in new window), the capacity-building programme gives institutions the tools and collaborative structures they need to translate IP and OS principles into sustainable practice. The programme operates on two complementary pillars. The Pilot Learning Lab offers an action-oriented training period where multi-professional teams tackle real institutional challenges across three intensive sessions, bridged by practical fieldwork. Designed as a ‘safe-to-fail’ experimental space, it empowers institutions to clarify roles, test collaboration mechanisms and forge concrete roadmaps for the future. Complementing this hands-on approach, IP4OS publishes freely reusable Profession Deepening Modules and a comprehensive toolbox on Zenodo(opens in new window). The modules feature insights from European experts spanning librarianship, technology transfer, research management and data stewardship. The toolbox equips teams with practical instruments such as the Knowledge Valorisation Rubric, the FAIR-R²L Rubric, and a specialised Guide on Multi-professional Teams and Consultations. Tailored for diverse groups – from researchers and IP professionals to librarians, data stewards and trainers – all materials are openly available and adaptable to local contexts. As the operational backbone of IP4OS’ Europe-wide efforts, the programme is set to train multi-professional teams across the EU, fostering a vibrant pan-European Community of Practice in Research and Innovation. Institutions not participating in the pilot are invited to explore these resources and join the IP4OS community to drive collective progress.
Extending a challenge
To cement its commitment to practical innovation, IP4OS (IP4OS Unpacking the possibilities of Intellectual Properties for Open Science) has launched an Open Innovation Challenge(opens in new window) that invites established and emerging multi-professional teams across Europe to co-create AI-enabled solutions at the critical intersection of OS and IP management. This initiative offers a unique platform to apply IP4OS methodologies in real-world scenarios, empowering participants to shape European dialogues on research knowledge valorisation while tackling the complex challenges of the modern research landscape. The deadline for proposal submissions is June 2026. For more information, please see: IP4OS project website(opens in new window)
