04 Sep Exclusivity

A tool to transform public research into innovation for the benefit of society

The strategic value of exclusive access in the enhancement of public research

Exclusivity is one of the most strategic tools in technology transfer, because it allows the results of public research to be transformed into concrete solutions for society. Granting exclusivity means giving a subject – usually a company or a spin-off – the right to be the only economic operator authorized to exploit a technology developed within the INFN. This is a real opportunity to promote industrial innovation, attract investment and stimulate the development of new products or services. But it also involves significant responsibilities for a public body, which must ensure effective use oriented towards the common good.

“Exclusivity is an effective tool, but it must be managed responsibly. It must create opportunities, not barriers”, underlines Ilaria Giammarioli, Head of the INFN Technology Transfer Service which deals, among other activities, with the negotiation of research contracts with companies and licenses for the use of the results.

What is exclusivity in technology transfer

An exclusive license allows a single party to exploit a technology, while restricting access to all others. The form of exclusivity can vary between:

• Total, if it covers all areas of application and territories;
• Partial, if limited to specific sectors or geographical areas;
• Time-limited, if valid only for a defined period.

Alternatively, non-exclusive licenses allow the use of the same technology by multiple parties. The choice between the two options depends on the nature of the invention, the target market and the identified enhancement objectives.

Why is exclusivity relevant?

If well managed, exclusivity can be an enabling factor for companies, encouraging them to invest in the development of technologies born in public research. The prospect of exclusive access reinforces commitment in the early stages – often the most complex – such as prototyping or industrialization.

For INFN, it is a useful tool to amplify the impact of research in strategic application areas – from medicine to safety, from the environment to scientific instrumentation – and strengthen collaboration with the production system.

For making this mechanism effective, it is essential that it is used with care, transparency and public vision, avoiding that it becomes a limit to the dissemination of knowledge or equitable access to technologies.

“Granting exclusivity means entrusting a public technology to those who concretely demonstrate that they want to bring it to the market, generating benefits for everyone. It is a responsibility that requires vision and rigor,” Ilaria reiterates.

A regulated and transparent process

How does the INFN evaluate and manage exclusivity requests? First of all, this is never granted automatically; The process starts with an expression of interest from an external party, followed by a technical and strategic assessment conducted with the involvement of the competent structures.

The elements to be considered are:

• the scientific and applicative value of the technology;
• the correspondence to INFN’s Mission;
• the solidity of the industrial project;
• the possible social and economic impacts

Exclusive licenses then always require the definition of contractual milestones, which represent precise commitments for the licensee. In the absence of progress in the development or exploitation of the technology, the contract can be revoked.

In this way, the INFN ensures that exclusivity is an instrument of acceleration and not of stalemate, capable of producing tangible results for the benefit of the country-system.

Scientific value, public vision

Finally, in addition to the contractual aspect, transparency is a guiding principle: each concession is managed and communicated clearly, respecting the public nature of the institution and the scientific community that contributes to the development of technologies.

“Exclusivity, for the INFN, is never a goal in itself,” Ilaria concludes, defining it: “a means to enhance research work, support industrial innovation and promote responsible access to knowledge, in a constant balance between protection, development and openness.”