Intellectual property (IP) guidance for the NHS in England

This guidance provides practical steps, good practice principles, case studies and model agreements and templates to support effective IP management in the NHS.

This guidance replaces the 2002 Department of Health guidance ‘The NHS as an innovative organisation: a framework and guidance on the management of intellectual property in the NHS’.

It provides non-statutory practical steps and good practice principles to promote consistent good practice in intellectual property (IP) management across the NHS in England.

This guidance includes:

the main guidance document outlining background, objectives, scope and practical steps and good practice principles

case studies with real-life examples, approaches and solutions

downloadable model agreements and templates to support IP management, partnerships and commercialisation

The guidance is designed to be flexible and adaptable, so organisations can tailor their approach to their size, resources and innovation maturity.

The case studies and model agreements and templates complement the main guidance, offering additional resources to support effective IP management in the NHS.

Updated to add 'IP guidance implementation toolkit: self-directed resources for organisations providing or commissioning NHS services' and the 'IP guidance implementation tracker template' in Word and ODT formats.