Stichting LIBER
LIBER
LIBER is the principal organisation representing research libraries in Europe.
ID: 24973952940-04
Lobbying Activity
Response to European Innovation Act
3 Oct 2025
There is a notable disjunction between the domains of Research and Innovation. It is imperative to achieve legislative changes to ensure that the entirety of the EU acquis supports the trajectory of innovation development. LIBER, the Association of European Research Libraries, has underscored repeatedly the presence of disruptions in information flow. Our members are actively involved in facilitating access to information and data and are uniquely positioned to identify legislative and systemic deficiencies that impede research. The existing copyright legislation fails to foster innovation, a condition that significantly constrains the European Union's potential for competition. This deficiency particularly impacts research-intensive universities, which are instrumental in generating spin-offs, incubating start-ups, and conducting advanced clinical research within university hospitals. Talent mobility and knowledge transfer should happen between sectors seamlessly to sustain progress. The EU should acknowledge and value the distinctive characteristics of R&I and make bold steps to converge the legislation in a harmonized body of regulations that does not repeat past mistakes. The proposed ERA Act and the Innovation Act are promising cases. There is a compelling need for Europe to promote Open Science, and thereby enhancing the accessibility of data, publications, and other research outputs that stimulate innovation. LIBER's Strategy advocates Open Science as a pivotal mechanism that accelerates the integration of R&I and enhances the efficacy of partnerships between public and private organisations. Additionally, the innovation capacity of SMEs could be significantly bolstered should there exist proper access mechanisms to publicly funded research outcomes, including Secondary Publishing Rights for publications and FAIR principles for data. At the same time, it is vital to foster public engagement in knowledge creation, an area where LIBER proficiently supports. Our members, a vibrant, engaged and knowledgeable network across Europe, possess state-of-the-art infrastructures that can be made accessible to private partners under appropriate frameworks. The EU must acknowledge the pivotal role of the public sector research institutions in cultivating innovation. Such recognition would not only validate its substantial investments in these organisations but also serve as an effective catalyst for leveraging public funds to enhance EU competition. The EU Innovation Act presents a timely opportunity to critically re-evaluate the regulatory impact assessment process. Specifically, it is essential to enshrine the principle that the legal framework applicable to research institutions and their libraries is indeed favourable to extensions to the private sector. We believe that the overarching principle should prioritise integration through synergies instead of fragmentation.
Read full responseMeeting with Andrus Ansip (Vice-President) and
3 Nov 2015 · Text and data mining