Benefits of member universities

IPR University Center – To success with IPR expertise

IPR University Center is a joint institute of universities, the objective of which is to increase and spread information pertaining to intellectual property rights (IPR) and to act as a contact between business life and universities.

 

The member universities include Hanken School of Economics, University of Helsinki, University of Turku, University of Eastern Finland, University of Lapland. Aalto University, Jyväskylä University School of Business and Economics, University of Vaasa and Tampere Universities. To the member universities we offer IPR education, research services, support for different phases of an innovation process and for collaborating with companies, as well as national and international networks. The aim is to bring out the significance of the intellectual property rights system and the possibilities of its utilisation in the society.

The operation of IPR University Center is supported by IPR University Center Association ry, which consists of large Finnish enterprises, law firms and agencies, various organisations and representatives of the public sector.

Become a part of unique activity

IPR University Center is the only center of excellence regarding intellectual property rights in Finland. IPR University Center has extensive and well-functioning networks of international university and business operators. The education, research and collaboration projects offered by us are high quality, objective, international and up-to-date. We produce information mainly in Finnish and in English.

The member universities of IPR University Center are an active group of the field’s top experts who collaborate extensively in order to develop the education and research of intellectual property rights in Finland. IPR University Center supports and enables the co-operation between universities, promotes active discussion concerning the field’s future and offers a common and coherent supply of education. We organise various online lectures, seminars, conferences and researcher meetings. We also promote field-developing networking and joint brainstorming in our other events such as the IPR Gala, the World IP Day and networking lunches. We organise conferences such as Helsinki IP Summit, IP Academy and the Nordic Network Meeting. IPR University Center participates in the arrangement of the annual IPR day and various co-operation conferences.

IPR education and continuing training

IPR University Center organizes IPR education for universities. It is possible for a student of a member university to complete basic IPR courses or advanced studies for up to 25 credits. It is also possible to customise a course package with a scope suitable precisely for your university.

We organise approximately 60 different events and training events annually. The lecturers are Finnish or international top experts. We utilise the IPRonline learning environment which focuses solely on the supply of intellectual property rights education. The platform is maintained in collaboration with the Finnish Patent and Registration Office.

IPR University Center provides education on intellectual property rights (IPR) to universities. The offering includes both introductory courses and advanced studies for bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral students.

Each year, we organize approximately 45 different events and training sessions. Our lecturers are leading Finnish and international experts. We use the IPRonline learning environment, which is focused on intellectual property education. The platform is maintained in cooperation with the Finnish Patent and Registration Office.

Member institutions can build a comprehensive study package for their students from the IPR University Center’s course offerings. Member universities may select training sessions that interest their students and staff and incorporate them into their curricula. Our events provide opportunities to network with both Finnish and international IPR professionals. In addition, representatives of member universities may suggest topics for teaching content, invite guest speakers from their own networks, and organize events in cooperation with us. This increases the visibility of Finnish academic IPR expertise within our international networks. Students can attend almost all of our seminars and events free of charge, and staff members of member universities are also offered complimentary staff tickets as well as training sessions designed exclusively for them.

Funding applications and joint projects

IPR University Center coordinates various research and training projects with its partners and member universities. These projects have been funded e.g. by the Ministry of Education and Culture, the Foundation for Economic Education, the Academy of Finland, Business Finland, Tekes, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Employment, and the Foundation for Finnish Inventions. The funding has assisted in the production of various industry-supporting research projects, reports, training series, online courses, IPR games and quizzes and international conferences. More information on the projects and reports of IPR University Center can be found here.

Visibility and competence for universities

We organize academic conferences in collaboration with the member universities and publish articles. We introduce academic experts and their research results in the IPRinfo online magazine and in our social media channels. We transmit information to our networks concerning e.g. the course supply and conducted research, free events and job opportunities of our member universities. We also supply lecturers to various events.

Social influence

The member universities of IPR University Center get to influence socially significant projects. Representatives of the member universities are widely involved in various working groups and boards of associations of the field (national IPR strategy working group, industrial property rights working group TOTR, the Copyright Council, the Finnish Association for Industrial Property Rights STY, the Finnish Aippi Group etc). The member universities issue statements on behalf of IPR University Center to e.g. the Finnish Parliament and Government. Their representatives have been heard as experts in the Market Court and various ministries and are also represented in the board of directors of IPR University Center.

IPR University Center offers

Seminars, education and online events

Member universities may create a credit-providing study module from the training supply of IPR University Center. The training supply of IPR University Center can be found here.

We offer the possibility for researchers to present their work, discuss the topic and receive comments thereto in our IPR Mornings events. They also have the chance to introduce themselves in the IPRinfo magazine, which has broad readership.

IPR Summer School is a week-long education package aimed at master-level students and early-stage researchers. It also offers visibility for member universities. A maximum of 40 students are chosen based on their applications, and the package with its assignments is worth 5 credits. IPR Summer School has been a meeting place for fledgling experts of intellectual property rights and its lecturers and participants are of international top level. Over the years, students from 25 different countries have participated. The international lecturers have come from different universities, the largest international agencies of the industry and from the EUIPO, the WIPO and the EPO. The students have also gotten to know the Finnish IPR field by visiting Teosto, Aalto Startup Center and other IPR offices, for example. IPR Summer School is free of charge for the chosen students.

Online education

Research

IPR University Center produces research in the field of intellectual property rights. We coordinate various research projects, apply for research funding, and bring together consortia to carry out research.

We support researchers in the field of IPR and promote their networking, for example by offering grants provided by our support association. These grants enable recipients to enhance their expertise and build networks by participating in conferences and international events, among other activities.

We also organize shadow dissertation events, where a broader audience has the opportunity to learn about research findings and ask questions directly to the doctoral researcher who has completed their dissertation.

Trainee programme

Trainees are an essential part of the operation of IPR University Center. We offer mainly advanced law students a vantage point to the world of intellectual property rights. Our trainee programme runs throughout the year and a traineeship lasts from three to five months. The traineeship is paid.

During its operation, IPR University Center has had over 100 trainees. The trainees create summaries to our case database, write articles to the IPRinfo magazine, help organize various events and conduct information searches, news coverage as well as various reports. More information about our trainee programme may be found here (page in Finnish).

The trainee programme is supported by IPR University Center Association ry.

Workspaces in Economicum

The premises of IPR University Center in Economicum enable possible short-term working spaces in Helsinki for representatives of the member universities. We have 4 spacious rooms with several peaceful working stations at our disposal. Economicum is located at Arkadiankatu 7, right in the center of Helsinki with good means of transportation. Economicum is a building of the University of Helsinki, which, in addition to office spaces, has a few classrooms and a large auditorium.

Marketing

IPR University Center communicates about its activities through the IPRinfo newsletter, targeted email bulletins, and social media channels. Our newsletter has approximately 2,000 subscribers, and our social media channels reach target audiences of several thousand people. In addition to promoting our own events, we use our communication channels to share information about member universities’ events, master’s programs, open positions, research projects, and research results.

Membership of higher education institutions in IPR University Center

IPR University Center offers comprehensive benefits to the students, researchers, and staff of its member institutions. Through membership, universities can strengthen their IPR expertise, participate in research collaboration, and further develop their education.

 

Basic Membership (8,000 € / year)

Full Membership (€25,000 / year) Includes all the benefits of Basic Membership, plus the extended benefits listed below:

Students Free places at seminars, conferences, and both domestic and international partner seminars. Access to closed courses not available to others. Opportunity to earn ECTS credits from IPR University Center webinars, seminars, and conferences. Internship program recruiting exclusively from member universities. Researchers IP Mornings events and other researcher meetings, with the opportunity to present one’s own research at events coordinated by IPR UC. Annual training sessions and courses designed for researchers. Grants awarded by the support association for IP-related conferences. Opportunity to participate in the Nordic-German IP Network Meeting. Staff and research Collaboration Opportunity to influence IPR University Center’s activities through participation in the management group. Opportunity to participate in funding applications coordinated by IPR University Center (such as EU Horizon, Erasmus+, Academy of Finland). Access to workspace and facilities at our office at Economicum by agreement. One complimentary staff ticket to paid conferences organized by IPR University Center. Support in recruiting lecturers and experts for courses and events. A targeted newsletter for higher education institutions covering current topics. Visibility and marketing Visibility for member universities’ logos and events in IPR University Center’s communication channels. Opportunity to promote master’s programs, research projects, and open positions. Presentation of academic experts and research on the website, in the IPRinfo publication, and on social media. Co-organized academic conferences and publication opportunities in the IPRinfo journal, as well as dissertation publications.

Additional benefits for students and staff (Full membership) Priority access to student free places at seminars and conferences. Five complimentary staff tickets to paid conferences organized by IPR University Center. Training for university staff (participation in training offered to the support association, Operight training at the university). Research collaboration and funding (Full Membership) Priority opportunity to participate in funding applications coordinated by IPR University Center (such as EU Horizon, Erasmus+, Academy of Finland). Tailored services and training (Full membership) Assistance with courses as agreed (such as grading exams and assignments for selected IPR University Center courses). Webinars tailored to the member institution’s wishes (two per year).

 

Juha Vesala
Director
juha.vesala@utu.fi

The contact information of IPR University Center’s personnel may be found here.