According to FECYT recommendations on the EURAXESS portal, the knowledge generated by all public and private entities must be protected to ensure that the benefits of this knowledge can be harnessed. In Spain, this protection is divided into two categories:

For more information, please consult the Guidelines for Managing the Mobility of Foreign Researchers in Spain from the FECYT.

In the European context, there are two main offices where protection of intellectual property may be sought: the EPO - European Patent Office and the EUIPO - European Union Intellectual Property Office, as well as the European IP Helpdesk. In Spain, you can contact the Spanish Patent and Trademark Office (OEPM) or the Intellectual Property Register (RPI). There is also a Regional Intellectual Property Register in Andalusia. At the University of Jaén, you can contact the Knowledge and Technology Transfer Office (OTRI) in Building B1-036G - Las Lagunillas Campus for guidance.

The OTRI offers recommendations and advice on different tools for protecting research findings, managing this protection (patents, industrial designs, copyright, etc.), patentability (including applications), training on protecting your research findings and strategies for drafting and negotiating confidentiality agreements, material transfer agreements and licences with third parties. It is important to bear in mind that any industrial property and intellectual property resulting from research activity at the University of Jaén, including any documents, digital/biological/chemical material or other types of material deriving from this activity, belong to the University of Jaén (unless they are the result of subcontracting to third parties). We recommend that you consult the Code on Good Research Practice from the Vice-Rectorate for Research at UJA, which also addresses issues of confidentiality.

Finally, UJA supports the Open Access strategy, which consists of providing free access to scientific information, as the European Commission website explains.