LCIC advising on international trade agreements

Low Carbon Innovation Centre (LCIC) CEO, Dr Chris Harrison, travelled to China in September at the invitation of the UK Intellectual property Office (IPO) to begin conversations with their Chinese Counterpart (SIPO). The discussion addressed technology transfer agreements between UK universities and companies and Chinese organisations with particular regard to the transfer of low carbon technology. The invitation to participate came from the International Policy section of IPO and adds strength to LCIC’s growing experience in China.

The main purpose of the trip was a workshop involving representatives from Chinese universities, industry and their intellectual property office (SIPO). The workshop was to discuss the "Lambert" framework agreements that were developed in the UK as a consequence of the Lambert Review of University and Industry interaction conducted in 2003. The framework agreements give a starting point for universities and companies when working on collaborative projects around IP and other contractual matters.

The workshop was opened by Sir Richard Lambert to facilitate university-business, university-university and business-business collaborations and licensing across international boundaries. There was a particular emphasis on low carbon technology as this is seen as a potentially valuable area for China-UK collaborations and IP licensing.

The IPO delegation was scheduled alongside Lord Mandelson’s Department of Business and Skills delegation to China at which over $500m worth of trade deals were agreed. This international policy strategy is part of a number of initiatives that the UK IP Office is undertaking to encourage the development and transfer of low carbon technology.