New approaches for technology transfer of food innovation between universities and industry: the devil is in the detail

EU states are committed to the concept of technological innovation as a driver for economic growth, and in the wake of COVID, identifying the Rosetta stone to achieve this aim remains a pressing objective. Analyzing the experience of Ireland as a barometer for other EU states, this communication suggests a revised approach based on eschewing the traditional one-size-fits all strategy to technology transfer. Identifying information asymmetry as a critical challenge to overcome, the revised strategy includes extending the intellectual property debate beyond patents to instruments of greater relevance to the food industry, and the adoption of a revised definition of 'innovation' by research grant agencies.