On October 24th 2024, Aspen Institute Romania organized the roundtable Bolstering Competitiveness and National Security: The Role of Intellectual Property in Advancing Technology & Innovation Leadership, as a side event of the Aspen-GMF Bucharest Forum 2024.

Governments across the world have recognized the strategic importance of maintaining technological leadership in key areas, including artificial intelligence, quantum computing, and advanced telecommunications. Over the last several years, the European Union and the United States have shown a clear commitment to building strong Transatlantic leadership in key technologies. Yet, uncoordinated, ill-conceived and sometimes contradictory regulatory actions risk undermining the achievement of this goal, by eroding the ability of Western companies to maintain their technological edge and lead in the development of key technologies. Policies related to intellectual property rights (IPRs) are a case in point. The roundtable will discuss the interconnection between technological IPRs, research & development, technology leadership, competitiveness and national security.

The roundtable discussion hosted by the Aspen Institute Romania was critical in understanding the complex interplay between intellectual property rights and technological leadership. Building a coherent strategy for policy interventions requires bringing together the many viewpoints, including academic experts, legislators, and executives in the business. True to its mission, Aspen Institute Romania gathered more than 30 experts who share the goal of fostering an environment of innovation and security in a lively and meaningful dialogue.

These conversations, as anticipated, shed insight into the complex difficulties countries encounter in preserving their scientific superiority while protecting national security.

This policy brief – which gathers insights from the participants – argues for a balanced intellectual property framework that supports innovation while protecting national interests.