Speaking

Business Model, Legal Architecture and Long Term Optionality

with David Dessers

For Biotech founders and companies

The workshop examined how early business model choices in biotechnology affect IP ownership, partnering leverage, fundraising and exit options. It compared product, licensing, hybrid, platform and services models and used practical examples to show how exclusivity, field of use, joint ownership and licence options can create long term constraints. The session was aimed at biotech founders and companies thinking through how decisions taken at the earliest stages shape what remains possible years later.

Healthy Ideas, Healthy Returns Masterclass

For Founders and companies building technology businesses

The masterclass covered IP strategy and commercialisation across the growth cycle of a technology company. Axel contributed sessions on inbound and outbound IP, commercialisation, corporate partnering, venture capital structures, freedom to operate and governance. The programme addressed how IP decisions interact with wider commercial objectives, from early protection through to partnering and exit. It was intended for founders and companies building technology businesses who need to understand how intellectual property choices affect future flexibility and value.

Funded Development & Co-Creation

with Olivier Van Raemdonck

For Technology companies and their customers

A workshop on the contractual structure of customer funded product development and joint development. It addressed product roadmaps, IP ownership, exclusivity, royalties, background and foreground IP, contributions, termination and freedom to operate. The session set out how to structure the relationship so that funding does not quietly restrict the developer future options. It was aimed at technology companies and their customers considering funded development or co-creation arrangements.

Tech Contracting

with Ward Verwaeren

For Lawyers and contract managers

An overview of core technology agreements and the provisions that require particular care in software, hardware and professional services contracts. Subjects included contract architecture, indemnities, liability, specifications, intellectual property, service levels and boilerplate provisions. The session was designed to make the practical choices in technology contracting visible and manageable. It was aimed at lawyers and contract managers working with technology agreements who need a structured approach to the issues that recur across different contract types.

Artificial Intelligence, Intellectual Property Rights & Academic Research

with Ward Verwaeren

For Academic researchers and research support staff

A session on the legal questions raised by the use of AI in academic research. It covered AI training data, text and data mining, copyright in AI output, AI related patents, privacy and the responsible use of generative AI. The session addressed how researchers can work with AI tools while respecting IP and data protection obligations. It was intended for academic researchers and research support staff navigating the legal boundaries of AI use in their work.

IP & Partnering in a University Context

with Glenn L'Hoest and Ward Verwaeren

For Researchers, technology transfer staff and partners

A workshop on intellectual property, commercialisation and partnering in a university context. It covered the main IP rights, inbound and outbound IP, licensing, spin offs, development arrangements and the relationship between IP strategy and wider commercial objectives. The session was aimed at researchers, technology transfer staff and partners working with university innovation. It set out how to align IP decisions with the commercial goals of a research collaboration or spin off.

Key Legislation at the Intersection of Data Law & Healthcare

with Ward Verwaeren and Aida Kaloci

For Healthcare, life sciences and data professionals

A presentation on the GDPR, health data, the Data Act, the Data Governance Act and European health data initiatives. It examined how data access, data sharing, connected medical devices and regulatory requirements interact in healthcare. The session addressed the practical effect of overlapping data regulations on healthcare products and research. It was intended for healthcare, life sciences and data professionals working with health data across the European regulatory framework.

General Terms and IP Clauses

with Ward Verwaeren

For Colleagues (internal workshop)

An internal legal workshop on general terms and conditions, the battle of forms under Belgian law, liability, acceptance, boilerplate clauses and intellectual property provisions in commercial agreements. The session was delivered to colleagues and addressed how these provisions work together in practice. It focused on the drafting and negotiation choices that determine whether general terms and IP clauses hold up when they are actually tested.