Course syllabus

TEK785 – Advanced Intellectual Property Management

Course syllabus 2026

Credits: 7.5

Study period: Lp4 (March-June)

Level: Master

Department: Technology Management and Economics.

1. Contact details

Teachers: Mike Hatrick and Marcus Holgersson

Main point of contact: Mike Hatrick (michael.hatrick@volvo.com)

Examiner: Marcus Holgersson (marcus.holgersson@chalmers.se)

2. Aim

The purpose of this course is to deepen and broaden the student’s knowledge and abilities in the management of intellectual assets, by applying knowledge and skills acquired in previous courses. The student will develop their decision-making capabilities related to intellectual assets, including strategic, organizational, and leadership capabilities. The course primarily focuses on intellectual property, but covers intellectual assets more broadly, including technology, knowhow, data, etc.

3. Learning Outcomes

1. Describe and use key concepts, models, and tools for advanced intellectual property management.
2. Identify and analyze the connections between on the one hand intellectual property strategy and one the other hand innovation and business strategy, and how such connections relate to the business context (type/size of firm, industry, technology, etc.)
3. Identify and analyze the connections between the intellectual property strategy of an organization and its intellectual assets, such as technologies, knowhow, and data.
4. Use business economics and the understanding of the competitive environment to balance the value and cost of an intellectual property strategy.
5. Apply intellectual property strategy in the context of technological transformation.
6. Identify and analyze the need for different forms of collaborations and use knowledge of intellectual property management to design them.
7. Communicate intellectual property strategy with different stakeholders internally, including C-level executives, technology leaders, and innovators, and externally, including partners, competitors, and policy-makers.

4. Prerequisites 

Completed course TEK315 Strategic Management and Economics of Intellectual Property, or equivalent.

5. Content

Building on the theoretical perspectives on intellectual property provided in the course TEK315, this course focuses on the practice of strategic management of intellectual property. Therefore, the focus shifts slightly from strategies to strategizing. This includes hands-on perspectives on the connection between business and intellectual property strategy, how to manage technological shifts in different industries and training in decision-making, budgeting and communication around intellectual property within organizations of various kinds.

6. Course Language

English.

7. Schedule

TimeEdit

Schedule pdf

8. Examination

1. Active participation in the lectures, case sessions, guest lectures, and study visits. Students absent for more than four of these sessions must complete a written assignment to satisfy the “active participation” requirement.
2. Group case project with max 5 points.
3. End-term exam (4 hours) with max 20 points.

All three (A - C) need to be passed to pass the course. The following grading scheme applies for the course based on the points received:

9. Course Evaluation

An evaluation team will meet throughout the course to allow for improvements during the course. A written course evaluation plus an evaluation discussion will be carried out at the end of the course for the purpose of improving the course for future students.