Economic analysis of the role of Intellectual Property (IP) on investments in Artificial Intelligence (AI) Expression of Interest (EOI)

Background

The Government response to the Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Intellectual Property (IP) call for views identified several actions. This included a commitment to "commission an economic study to enhance our understanding of the role the IP framework plays in incentivising investment in AI alongside other factors. This will draw together the international evidence. This study will enable government to better understand the relationship between IP and AI. This expression of interest statement gives detail on this proposed study and invites those interested parties to respond, instructions can be found below.

AI developments have grown at an unprecedented pace and, as a General-Purpose Technology (GPT), has the potential to increase innovation and productivity in a wide variety of sectors. Existing research shows that AI investment have grown in the UK but funding remains one of the main obstacles to innovation (2019 ONS Innovation surveys), and AI firms are not an exception (Tech nation, 2019). IP may be an important investment incentive mechanism to protect the returns on these investments for inventors and creators. The government wants to better understand the role of the UK IP framework in incentivising investment in AI, to foster AI invention and innovation.

Objectives

IP may influence the costs and benefits from undertaking AI investment and thereby AI innovation. The IPO is commissioning a study to better understand the role IP plays in incentivising AI investment in the UK.

The scope of this research covers all IP that may incentivises investments in AI. This includes, but is not limited to, patents, copyrights, designs, trade marks, and trade secrets.

The expected outputs of the study are:

1. Identify key actors of the AI sector (developers and users),
2. Perform an assessment of the drivers of AI investment,
3. Provide evidence on whether and to what extent IP plays a role in incentivising AI investment in the UK.

How to Apply

Organisations interested in delivering the above services, should register your interest on the IPO e-procurement portal:

https://ipo-procurement.secure.force.com/ProSpend__CS_ContractPage?SearchType=projects&uid=a074J00000Ct5quQAB&searchStr=&sortStr=Recently+Published&page=1&filters=

Registration on the system may be required if you are a new supplier to the IPO e-portal system.

Associated Invitation to Tender (ITT) documentation is now available for bidding organisations to access. Completed ITT submissions must be returned via the IPO e-portal no later than noon (12:00), Friday 16 July 2021.

Tender Phase is now open for those that have not already expressed an interest.