Call for Papers
We invite researchers at all stages of their careers — from Ph.D. researchers to senior scholars — practitioners, and representatives of policymaking institutions and stakeholder organizations interested in the economic, legal, philosophical, and political aspects of intellectual property (IP) to submit papers for and/or attend the 21st European Policy for Intellectual Property (EPIP) Annual Conference, to be held in Torino (Turin), Italy, from 9 to 11 September 2026.
This conference will explore the historical perspectives, present realities, and future trajectories of IP, innovation, and technology, bringing together a diverse group of experts. We welcome contributions from a broad range of disciplines, including economics, law, management, anthropology, history, and political science, as well as stakeholders and policymakers for theoretical, empirical, and policy-oriented presentations and discussions on the intersection of IP, innovation, science, and technology.
Participants will have the opportunity to engage in discussions and presentations spanning a wide range of issues, organized around 1) the overarching theme of the conference, and 2) additional leading themes and topics. Submissions from all disciplines on all IP-related topics are welcome.
Overarching Theme — Intellectual Property and Innovation Policy in the New Global Economy
Join us as we explore the evolving role of Intellectual Property and Innovation Policy in a rapidly transforming global economy. In a world shaped by technological breakthroughs — the green transition, global health challenges, and shifting geopolitical dynamics — IP plays a pivotal role in fostering innovation, resilience, and sustainable growth. As these developments reshape markets and societies, understanding and advancing IP policy has never been more important.
Stimulating research, innovation, and creativity lies at the heart of IP frameworks. These systems are pivotal in shaping a future-oriented agenda that balances the interests of right holders and users. As stakeholder perspectives evolve and societal priorities shift, IP policy must continue to adapt, ensuring that its principles effectively translate into meaningful and impactful action.
The theme of the 21st EPIP Annual Conference has been chosen to provide a broad and inspiring umbrella under which we can address topics of high societal relevance. This approach aims to encourage thought-provoking discussions and accommodate a wide range of research interests within the EPIP community. We also hope to attract scholars from disciplines beyond the traditional EPIP domains, as multidisciplinarity is essential for tackling poly-crises: engaging in dialogue, collaborating, and developing solutions beyond disciplinary silos.
Building on this overarching theme, and on the long-standing research areas traditionally covered by EPIP conferences, we invite the submission of full papers and extended abstracts addressing the leading topics and themed session outlined below, as well as any other IP-related research of relevance to the EPIP community.
Leading themes and topics
We invite submissions on a wide range of topics, including (but not limited to) the following:
• IP governance & health policies
• Biopharmaceutical innovation & emerging technologies
• Digital health, AI & data-driven healthcare
• Global health crises & adaptive IP policies
• Litigation outcomes, settlements, and strategic behaviour of firms
• IP dispute resolution, specialised courts, and alternative dispute resolution
• Rethinking copyright collection societies
• Cross-jurisdictional comparisons
• IP as an incentive or disincentive for innovation
• IP & open innovation
• IP & technology standards (SEPs)
• IP & technology transfer
• IP & sustainable development goals (SDGs)
• IP & green innovation and the circular economy
• IP & access and benefit sharing
• IP, climate transition & clean technology diffusion
• IP & non-discrimination
• IP, innovation & gender gaps
• IP & human rights
• IP, traditional knowledge & indigenous communities
• Digital archiving
• Crafts, know-how, and innovation
• IP, artists, and crafters
• IP, innovation, architecture, and resilient cultural heritage
• AI, machine learning, and data quality in IP
• Standardization, interoperability, and data integration
• Democratization and access to patent information
• Methods, replication, and open science in IP research
Themed sessions
As in previous editions, the 21st EPIP Annual Conference will host Themed Sessions open to submissions. Participants interested in applying for a Themed Session should indicate this during the submission process by ticking the relevant box. Please note that the deadline for submissions to Themed Sessions is the same as for the other sessions. However, extended abstracts and full papers may be processed and evaluated separately from the regular review process by the Themed Session organizers.
The pharmaceutical industry operates in complex patent regimes, evolving regulatory frameworks, and stringent market access rules. These elements define the global landscape for R&D incentives, drug availability, and patient affordability. This session invites interdisciplinary contributions that analyse how specific IP and regulatory instruments, such as Supplementary Protection Certificates (SPCs), data exclusivity, compulsory licensing, and value-based pricing, impact pharmaceutical innovation. By focusing on Europe through a global comparative lens, the session aims to bridge the gap between technical IP legalities and their broader socio-economic outcomes.
This call invites submissions that relate to topics such as:
· the impact of extended exclusivity: how SPCs and patent extensions, entry of generics and biosimilars, influence R&D investment;
· IP governance and global health: the role of compulsory licensing and TRIPS flexibilities in balancing innovation incentives with global access to essential medicines;
· regulatory-IP interplay: how price regulations, data exclusivity, and market access rules reshape the geographic and economic strategies of pharma innovators;
· transforming models for health innovation: public-private partnerships and alternative incentives to address unmet medical needs.
Organizers: Fabio MONTOBBIO (Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore), Justyna OŻEGALSKA-TRYBALSKA (Jagiellonian University)
STEM graduates are obvious candidates to become inventors. A number of inventor surveys carried out in the 1990s and early 2000s indicated that no less than 75% of inventors held a university degree, of which more than a quarter a Ph.D. Recent research indicates a decline in the share of doctoral graduates undertaking an academic career and, possibly, an increasing share of those who find a job in industry. How many STEM graduates (especially Ph.D.s) become inventors? Is the doctoral education received and the research performed relevant, directly or indirectly, for subsequent inventive activity? What is the role of type of funding and supervision?
This call invites submissions that relate to topics such as:
· patenting activities by STEM graduate students;
· STEM graduates’ careers as inventors, including the role of supervisors and mentors;
· doctoral research and innovation;
· the relevance of industry-sponsored doctoral programmes;
· cross-country or policy perspective on all these topics.
Organizers: Francesco LISSONI (Bordeaux School of Economics), Catalina MARTINEZ (Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Instituto de Políticas y Bienes Públicos), Michele PEZZONI (Université Côte d’Azur)
Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming the creation, analysis, enforcement, and governance of intellectual property. From large language models used in patent research and legal analysis to AI-driven innovation processes, these technologies raise new questions about IP systems, institutions, and policy design. This session invites interdisciplinary contributions examining how AI reshapes IP practices, research methods, and regulatory frameworks, as well as the challenges and opportunities this creates for innovation and public policy.
This call invites submissions that relate to topics such as:
· AI and IP creation, ownership, and inventorship;
· large language models and AI tools for IP research, examination, and litigation;
· AI, data, and access to knowledge in IP systems;
· implications of AI for IP enforcement and dispute resolution;
· policy and governance challenges at the intersection of AI and IP.
Organizers: Grazia Sveva ASCIONE (Politecnico di Torino), Frank TIETZE (University of Cambridge), Justin JÜTTE (University College Dublin)
Since its launch in June 2023, the Unified Patent Court (UPC) has developed a growing body of case-law, which is starting to (re)shape European patent litigation. This session examines emerging operational maturity of the UPC by scrutinizing initial doctrinal developments from its case-law, procedural issues, operational dynamics, and the practical functioning across its various divisions. It also explores how industry, legal practitioners, and judges perceive the Court’s performance, consistency, and legitimacy. By analyzing emerging patterns in litigation, remedies, interaction with other key actors in the European patent system, and judicial reasoning, we aim to assess the evolution of trust in the UPC and its long-term implications for the future of European patent litigation.
This call invites submissions that contain theoretical, conceptual, comparative, and empirical research related to topics such as:
· early trends in UPC case-law;
· UPC procedural innovations and practices;
· UPC impact on patent litigation strategies;
· trust in and legitimacy of the UPC;
· future challenges and opportunities for the UPC.
Organizers: Esther VAN ZIMMEREN (University of Antwerp), Danish NAITHANI (University of Antwerp)
The development of patent systems has played a foundational role in shaping modern innovation economies. From the Venetian Patent Statute of 1474 to the English Statute of Monopolies of 1624, the French Patent Law of 1791, and the U.S. Patent Act of 1790, early institutional designs continue to influence contemporary debates on intellectual property governance.
This session invites interdisciplinary contributions exploring the historical origins, evolution, and long-term economic consequences of early patent regimes. By connecting historical institutional analysis with modern IP policy debates, the session aims to shed light on how foundational legal choices continue to shape innovation incentives, market structures, and global competition today.
This call invites submissions that relate to topics such as:
· the economic and legal foundations of early patent statutes (Venice, England, France, United States, and beyond);
· comparative institutional evolution of patent regimes and their diffusion across jurisdictions;
· archival and data-driven approaches to historical IP systems;
· lessons from early patent institutions for contemporary innovation policy and global IP governance.
Organizer: Domenico GOLZIO (Associazione Italiana Documentalisti Brevettuali)
Deadlines and Timeline
Applicants must submit their full paper or extended abstract via the online submission system by May 3, 2026. Results on admissions and rejections will be announced in early June 2026. Accepted (first) authors are requested to confirm their participation by registering for the conference.
