The 21st Annual Conference of the European Policy for Intellectual Property Association (EPIP) will take place from 09 to 11 September 2026 in Turin, Italy. It will be hosted by Politecnico di Torino and co-organised with the Bordeaux School of Economics (Université de Bordeaux).
As in previous editions, the conference will bring together experts from various disciplines, such as economics, law, management, anthropology, history and political science alongside stakeholders and policymakers. Participants will engage in theoretical, empirical, and policy‑focused presentations and discussions addressing the historical perspectives, present realities, and future trajectories of IP, innovation and technology.
(Source: EPIP website)
This year’s overarching theme is ‘Intellectual Property and Innovation Policy in the New Global Economy’. The 21st EPIP Annual Conference focuses on the evolving role of Intellectual Property and Innovation Policy in a rapidly changing global economy. In a context where technological advances, the green transition, global health challenges and shifting geopolitical dynamics are reshaping markets and production systems, IP has become a central mechanism for supporting innovation, ensuring resilience and enabling sustainable growth. This year’s theme is intentionally broad to address topics of high societal relevance. It is designed to encourage contributions that stimulate thought-provoking discussions and accommodate a wide range of research interests, including those of scholars from disciplines beyond the traditional EPIP domains.
Alongside sessions touching directly or indirectly on this overarching theme, the conference organisers are also inviting submissions on a wide range of topics, including (but not limited to) the following:
- Healthcare & IP and innovation policies
- IP & governance
- Innovation, technology transfer & IP
- IP & sustainable innovation
- IP & (in)equality, diversity, and inclusivity
- IP & creative industries
- IP & data quality
As in previous editions, the 21st EPIP Annual Conference will host themed sessions, which are also open to submissions. The EPIP2026 Themed Sessions are listed below:
- ‘Intellectual Property, Regulation, and R&D Incentives in Pharmaceuticals’
- ‘Training Inventors? STEM Graduates and Inventive Activities’
- ‘Artificial Intelligence and Intellectual Property’
- ‘From Launch to Legitimacy: Assessing the Unified Patent Court’s Early Performance’
- AIDB-Sponsored session ‘The Origins and Evolution of Patent Systems: Historical Foundations and Modern Innovation Policy’
Participants interested in presenting at a Themed Session should indicate this during the submission process by ticking the relevant box.
These themes and topics align closely with CREATe’s research agenda, reflecting the affinity and long-standing relationship that has characterised our relationship with EPIP over the years. In 2015, CREATe had the honour to host EPIP 10th annual conference at the University of Glasgow, where the role of Intellectual Property in the Creative Economy was explored.
Submissions on all IP-related topics are invited, including those related to the conference’s main theme and topics, by 26 April 2026 via the conference online submission system. Results on admissions/rejections will be announced in early June 2026.
You can find more information on the EPIP2026 conference website: https://event.fourwaves.com/epip2026/pages