The CREST Group report

The CREST group on IP set out to address perceived difficulties in setting up cross-border collaborations. As policy makers from the member states they considered both the information currently available to practitioners and the nature of research collaborations in their own countries. The group identified two key elements: the lack of a resource that can be used by practitioners; and, the need for effective training systems. Details of the Group’s findings are set out on the pages below.

Background

CREST is tasked with acting as the operational interface to define and oversee the implementation of a soft governance tool called the "Open Method of Coordination" to achieve the goal set at the Barcelona European Council 2002 of research investment approaching 3% of GDP by 2010.

Recommendations

During the first CREST cycle, expert groups looked at 6 broad areas, and we provided expert input to the "IPR and Research" expert group.

Key Features

The project focused on two principal workstreams: work stream 1 focused on models for effective cross-border collaborations; the work stream 2 focused on professional qualification in knowledge and technology transfer.

Workstream 1

Practical Guidance on IP to facilitate cross-border collaborations.

Workstream 2

Professionalising Technology Transfer.

State Aid

During the course of the work of second CREST cycle, the crucial role of the state aid framework in enabling effective knowledge transfer was also considered