Fewer researchers starting their own companies following legislative change
New figures show that entrepreneurship and patenting among Norwegian university researchers have declined significantly in recent years. This development is linked to the removal of the so-called "professor's privilege," a scheme that previously granted researchers the rights to their own inventions.
Before the legislative change, researchers owned the results of their work themselves, which provided a strong financial incentive to commercialize research. When the state took over the rights to these inventions, the framework conditions changed for those who wished to start their own companies based on academic work.
Experts point out that it has now become less attractive to be a researcher-entrepreneur in Norway. Many believe that the bureaucracy surrounding patenting and ownership has become too complicated, which prevents good ideas from reaching the market and creating new jobs.
The situation is sparking debate about how Norway can best facilitate innovation in academia. Several stakeholders are now calling for measures that could make it easier for researchers to translate knowledge into practical solutions and business ventures in the future.