Intellectual Property Policy Framework in Cooperative Research and Development Projects

The expansion of research partnerships between industry, government and university has resulted in some challenges about intellectual property due to different participants with diverse natures, interests and motivations. Especially in the case of publicly funded projects, existence of a framework for intellectual property policy becomes doubly important. In this research, we attempt to design a framework for intellectual property policy in such projects using grounded theory method. For this purpose, we reviewed related scientific sources and conducted interviews with experts with relevant knowledge and experience to obtain theoretical saturation. The proposed framework has four main dimensions: "contextual factors", "objectives and expected outcomes", "policy process" and "policy content", 13 factors and 42 components. Based on the results, to adopt an appropriate intellectual property policy for collaborative research, the characteristics and conditions of the project and its stakeholders as contextual factors and the expected consequences in the short, medium and long term, should be considered. Depending on the characteristics and nature of the project and its stakeholders, different consequences are expected from the policy. Also, the development, implementation and evaluation of this policy are affected by contextual factors and its expected consequences and can affect the content of the policy.