Commission launches survey on the EU Blueprint for IP licensing and spinoff creation

The European Commission has launched a public survey to gather stakeholder feedback for the upcoming EU Blueprint for IP Licensing and Spinoff Creation. The Blueprint is a key action under the EU Startup and Scaleup Strategy’s Lab to Unicorn initiative. It aims to help universities and public research organisations commercialise publicly funded research more effectively.

Expected to be adopted by the end of 2026, the guidance will address intellectual property licensing, royalty and revenue-sharing arrangements, equity participation in academic spin-offs, and incentives for researchers and inventors. It will provide practical support for universities, public research organisations and knowledge transfer offices.

The consultation is open to universities, research organisations, knowledge transfer professionals, researchers, founders, innovative companies, investors and public authorities.

While successful technology transfer depends on broader factors such as proof-of-concept funding, talent mobility, governance and knowledge transfer capacity, the survey focuses specifically on researcher incentives, the creation of academic spin-offs and the licensing of academic IP to third parties.

Participants are invited to assess the proposed guidance’s clarity, relevance, completeness and practical applicability, and to identify areas for improvement. Their feedback will contribute to the Commission’s finalisation of the Blueprint.

The survey remains open until 16 August 2026.

EU survey