IP manager life sciences

As an IP Manager for Life Sciences, you'll play a crucial role in identifying, protecting, and commercializing intellectual property developed at the University of Antwerp. You'll be responsible for implementing and further developing our organization's intellectual property strategy. You'll support innovation in the life sciences (such as biotech, pharmaceuticals, medtech, and diagnostics) by securing and strategically deploying patents, know-how, and other IP rights. You'll work closely with our researchers, valorisation managers, licensing managers, lawyers, and external patent attorneys.

The position includes the following tasks:

• Assess inventions and research results for patentability and commercial value, the latter in collaboration with the valorisation manager.
• Coordinating patent applications (national and international) in collaboration with external patent attorneys.
• Managing the existing IP portfolio (patents, trademarks, know-how, databases).
• Advising on IP aspects of public and private partnerships, licenses, and spin-offs.
• Supporting contracts such as NDAs, license and collaboration agreements.
• Monitoring IP developments and competition within the domain.
• Increasing IP awareness within the organization (training, guidelines).
• Developing and implementing the university's IP strategy.

• You have a PhD degree in one of the relevant disciplines (e.g. biology, bioengineering, biotechnology, pharmacy, medicine or chemistry); or equivalent competences gained through prior work experience.
• Additional training or demonstrable experience in intellectual property is a plus.
• You are motivated to learn about new innovations and take responsibility for protecting them.
• You have strong analytical skills and strategic insight.
• You are adept at time management and can manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• You build relationships and trust with researchers, inventors, industrial partners, and legal teams.
• You have basic knowledge of technology transfer processes for academic knowledge.
• You have experience in reading and interpreting collaboration agreements and licensing contracts.
• You can build a project portfolio, determine the appropriate priorities and timing for follow-up, and have the necessary administrative skills.
• You communicate clearly and enjoy working in a team.
• You can align internal and external expectations through excellent communication skills.
• You are flexible, customer-focused, honest, creative, quality-oriented, and collaborative.
• You preferably understand and speak Dutch fluently. You have good oral and written English skills.
• You are proficient in Microsoft 365.
• Relevant work experience in both academic and industrial research is a strong asset.