Industry 5.0 with its requirement for stakeholder collaboration has an impact on the field of intellectual property, comments Sevim Süzeroglu-Melchiors, from the Faculty of Business and Management at the Technical University of Applied Sciences Regensburg. Sevim is chair of track 8.4 at the 2025 R&D Management Conference.
“IP and its protection mechanisms are based on the principles of prohibition and exploitation and aim to promote innovation through transparency and publication. Managing industry 5.0 innovations are becoming increasingly complex due to the cooperation of different parties and interest groups.
“This raises research questions about ownership, distribution and exploitation rights and the balance between benefits and risks. In addition, the intersection of traditional and non-traditional intellectual property rights is a topic of growing interest in this area.”
IP and innovation strategy
“While IP management is often seen as a complex and niche topic, it remains critically important for businesses,” Sevim continues. “The value of both protected and unprotected IP assets is undeniable.
“My research focuses on the intersection of IP management, innovation management, and entrepreneurship. Currently, I am investigating how start-ups perceive and implement IP management strategies, offering insights into how these young companies navigate the complexities of IP in their innovation journeys.
“The Intellectual Property (IP) Management track explores the vital role of IP management in driving companies’ innovation efforts. Beyond this, we aim to discuss emerging and current IP management topics, particularly in the context of global challenges like sustainability, biodiversity, digital IP rights, and non-traditional IP rights.”
Track 8.4 Intellectual Property Management: Leveraging Intellectual Property to Drive Innovation and Sustainability in the Digital Era
As digital technologies continue to transform industries and societies, intellectual property (IP) has also become essential for innovation in areas such as AI, blockchain and digital platforms. These rapidly evolving technologies also play a pivotal role in advancing global sustainability efforts, e.g. by reducing resource consumption, optimizing energy efficiency, and supporting more resilient and sustainable business models.
However, the management of IP and associated strategic decisions remain a complex undertaking, requiring companies to balance opportunities with challenges. The objective of this track is to gather researchers in the field of innovation to discuss the important role of IP management for companies in general, but also new aspects of IP management.
This includes tackling global challenges related to ‘Innovation and Biodiversity’, digital IP rights and non-traditional IP rights, as well as other topics of growing importance in IP management.
R&D Management Conference 2025:
Innovation & Biodiversity
Institute of Management of Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, Pisa
30 June – 2 July 2025
Track chair: Sevim Süzeroglu-Melchiors, Technical University of Applied Sciences Regensburg, Faculty of Business and Management
Co-chairs:
Frank Tietze, University of Cambridge, Department of Engineering, Institute for Manufacturing
Martin A. Bader, THI Business School, Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt and McGill University, School of Continuing Studies
Alfred Radauer, IMC University of Applied Sciences Krems, Institute for Business and Innovation (IBUS)
