Innovation Platform
Differences between Sweden and DenmarkKey differences at a glance
| Topic | Sweden (Universities, Regions) | Denmark (Universities, Regions) |
|---|---|---|
| Invention ownership | Researchers own IP (professor’s privilege).University TTOs (e.g. LU Innovation, MaU Innovation) advise/support but do not own IP.
Hospitals and regional employers hold rights to staff inventions. Professor’s privilege applies only in academia; in the public sector, the employer owns IP. |
University owns IP (Act on Inventions at Public Research Institutions).TTOs (e.g. UCPH Lighthouse) handle patenting and commercialization.
Regions have their own TTOs (e.g. Region Hovedstaden’s TTO). They coordinate closely with university TTOs, especially in dual employment cases, and decide jointly on IP ownership and commercialization. |
| University rights to IP |
Free right of use in research and teaching. | Full applicant and patent holder. |
| Patent costs | Covered by the researcher (LU Innovation can support inventions originating from LU). | Initial costs covered by the TTO (Lighthouse). |
| Commercialization | LU Innovation and MaU Innovation provide advice; LU Holding may invest or co-develop spin-outs originating from LU. | TTO handles licensing and spin-out support. |
| Publication | Publication may be delayed for up to 3 months (6 months in special cases) to secure IP protection. | Publication may be delayed for up to 3 months for IP arrangements. |
| Conflicts of interest | Researcher-led responsibility, guided by ethics, general public sector rules, and funding agency requirements. | Formal collaboration rules and mandatory disclosure. |