Sweden jurisdiction report: Universities - a hub of innovation

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) notes the importance of public research combined with IP. To assist in information and development of IP policies, WIPO provides free access to a database with manuals and worldwide agreements.

One example of searchable patent policies is LU Innovation from Lund University in Sweden. Founded in 1666, Lund University is one of the most innovative universities in Sweden. Examples of inventions discovered by the university or in cooperation with the university during its history include:

1916: “The M series”—new instruments of significance for X-ray spectroscopy, created by the 1924 Nobel Prize recipient Siegbahn; 1944: Tetrahedron (Tetra Pak)—a four-sided pyramid shape packaging for foods, created by Wallenberg, patent protected by Rausing; 1957: Carlsson (Nobel Prize recipient in 2000), who discovered dopamine as a powerful signal substance in the brain, leading to the first drug to relieve symptoms of Parkinson’s disease; 1967: Nicorette—the first nicotine medicine, created by professor Lundgren and Lichtneckert; 1987: Turbohaler—an inhaler for the dosage and inhalation of asthma medicine, developed by Wetterlin; 1991: Researchers developed the health-promoting bacteria culture Lactobacillus plantarum 299V, leading to the ProViva range of fruit drinks and other products ; 2012: Industrial designer Mahdjoubi’s degree project resulted in a shower that reduces water consumption by 90%, used at the NASA space programme.

A hub for inventors

Lund University is aware of the importance of protecting new technology by patent applications and has created a special hub for innovation and commercialisation: LU Innovation, called “the link between academia and business”.

At www.innovation.lu.se, inventors can find important information on how to protect new ideas and avoid problems. For example, a section reads:

“Are you publishing your findings? It might seem … an odd question, but in order to be patented the invention must be new in relation to what is generally available on the day the patent application is submitted. This means that patents cannot be granted for published research findings. Remember to contact us before publishing!”