Building the Future of LESI Together!

This article was originally published as a LESI Member letter at April 17, 2025.

Dear LESI Members, Dear Friends

As we approach the end of my presidency, it is time to reflect on our collective achievements and set our sights on the future we are building—together. This year has been nothing short of transformational—for LESI as an organization, and for me personally.

With the adoption of our new Vision and Mission and the establishment of clear priorities, we have empowered the entire LESI community to move forward with shared purpose: to raise our visibility, engage members and stakeholders, and strengthen our financial foundation through a diversified funding model.

I truly believe we have elevated LESI to a new level—both in how we are seen externally and in how we communicate who we are, what we do, and how we collaborate. We’ve established LESI as a global focal point in the conversation around commercialization and IP. Our communications are now more structured, consistent, and professional, with national societies actively leveraging both our new website and their own channels. Many of our members are recognized as thought leaders in their fields. LES Nouvelles continues to serve as a respected platform for expert insight, and our LES-branded training programs have gained significant momentum.

This boost in visibility is the result of shared effort and dedication from across the organization—and it’s something we must continue to build on.

Increased Engagement

Over the past year, we’ve also worked hard to engage and activate our members and stakeholders, with a clear emphasis on bringing in industry voices. I have received an outpouring of positive feedback from our industry partners who value the networking, insights, and thought leadership LESI provides. Today, LESI is where it should be: at the heart of industry-relevant dialogue. We’ve earned this role by listening to the needs of our industry stakeholders and providing a balanced, impartial platform for vital discussions.

Our industry meetings in Madrid, Beijing, Santiago, and São Paulo, as well as successful industry delegation visits to China and Brazil, have validated our working model and attracted new in-house experts and companies to LESI. These connections are not one-off encounters—they represent growing expectations and a call for us to continue delivering high-value engagements.

Increased Collaboration

Beyond industry, we’ve also deepened collaboration with key global stakeholders. As an international top-tier professional organization, LESI has strengthened its partnerships with WIPO and the EPO. The High-Growth Technology Business (HTB) program with the EPO continues to support SMEs across Europe. And in partnership with WIPO, along with the Chilean and Brazilian Patent Offices (INAPI and INPI), we launched the LATAM IP Summit—a two-week initiative that brought together diverse players in the region’s innovation ecosystem. A Memorandum of Understanding with the Brazilian PTO is now laying the foundation for a long-term action plan.

In March, we proudly released the Special Edition of LES Nouvelles on Standard Essential Patents (SEPs). This edition brought together leading voices from business, law, and policy to provide a balanced and insightful perspective on a critical topic in the IP landscape. This edition was widely recognized and valued. Going forward, our newly formed SEP Committee will coordinate international SEP-related initiatives and keep LESI at the forefront of this important conversation.

Increased Sponsorship

Our growing visibility and stronger engagement have not gone unnoticed. We’ve attracted new sponsors at both the global and national levels and laid the groundwork for long-term partnerships through initiatives like our Thought Leadership Program and LES Nouvelles. These efforts are beginning to generate sustainable funding for LESI—funding that will enable us to fulfill our mission for years to come.

As we look to the future, I want to emphasize the importance of continuity. The momentum we have built this year is not an endpoint—it is a strong foundation for what comes next. I deeply appreciate President-Elect Jean-Christophe Troussel’s and the next in-coming President Elect Ningling Wang’s commitment to continuity and their strategic approach of planning LESI’s activities on a rolling three-year basis. This ensures that our efforts don’t exist in isolation, but as part of a larger, thoughtful journey toward long-term impact. I am confident that under their leadership, LESI will continue to grow and thrive.

Finally, I want to offer my heartfelt thanks to each and every one of you. Your encouragement, your participation, your trust—it has meant the world to me. Without your support, I would not have succeeded in this role. Together, we’ve built something meaningful. Serving as your President has been one of the greatest honors of my professional life, and I look forward to continuing to serve LESI in the years to come.

With gratitude and optimism,

Sonja London

President

LES International 2024-2025

Driving Industry of Innovation: How LESI Creates Opportunities for Technology and IP-Heavy Sectors

In industries where intellectual property (IP) and technology are the lifeblood of innovations such as high-tech, pharmaceuticals, automotive, IoT, electronics, chemicals, and energy—the effective management and strategic use of IP assets can make or break success. The Licensing Executives Society International (LESI) has long recognized this and is committed to empowering these industries through its global network, professional development opportunities, and thought leadership.

LESI isn’t just a professional organization; it’s a platform where industry players can access high-quality training, build vital networks, connect to decision makers and thought leaders and stay connected to the rapidly evolving world of IP.

Empowering Industries Through Knowledge and Training

For technology-driven and IP-heavy industries, staying ahead of the curve is essential. LESI provides a variety of professional development programs tailored to meet these demands, including online and in-person training sessions under its Thought Leaders Program. Several national and regional LES societies provide more local and topical training, some also eligible for local certifications.

Many companies have recognized the value LESI offers by sending entire teams to LESI events and conferences. These events are designed to provide actionable insights into IP strategy, licensing, and commercialization, ensuring that businesses can apply best practices in their industries. I have personally heard that attending a LESI conference once a year keeps the team’s thinking international and fresh. In emerging businesses, access to training and creating connections to other industry players is greatly supported by LESI conferences.

Moreover, LESI’s flagship publication, les Nouvelles, delivers in-depth articles on industry-relevant topics. For example, the upcoming March 2025 issue will spotlight Standard Essential Patents (SEPs), a critical area for industries like telecommunications, consumer electronics, IoT, and automotive. This focus highlights LESI’s dedication to providing members with cutting-edge information directly applicable to their fields.

Building a Strong Peer and Expert Network

LESI’s global network offers more than just training—it creates opportunities to connect with the best experts and decision-makers in the industry. Members have shared how LESI helped them quickly find top-tier professionals to address challenges or explore new ventures. LESI connects industries working with commercialization of IP – this includes various sectors from IP management tools to litigation funding, from AI to competition law.

For industries where collaboration is key, the ability to pick up the phone and connect with an expert in any part of the world is invaluable. Beyond this, LESI fosters peer networks among industry leaders and decision-makers. Maintaining relationships with these peers can lead to new partnerships, insights, and opportunities for innovation.

Additionally, LESI connects members with non-governmental organizations, regulators, and other influential entities. These connections are essential for industries that need to maintain dialogue with their stakeholders, navigate complex regulatory landscapes or align with global standards.

Industry-Focused Initiatives

During my term as LESI President (2024–2025), I have placed particular emphasis on engaging with industries. LESI is more industry-friendly than ever, thanks to initiatives designed to meet the specific needs of technology and IP-driven businesses.

• Thought Leaders Program: Offers practical, high-quality training and workshops on cutting-edge topics, both online and in person.

• Industry Discussion Events: Facilitated conversations tailored to address pressing issues in sectors like high-tech, consumer electronics and SEPs. These events bring together industry leaders to share insights and foster collaboration. These events are core part of our Annual Conferences and additionally organized around the various local LES events.

• Focused Content in les Nouvelles: LESI’s quarterly journal regularly features articles that resonate with industry professionals. The March 2025 issue, for example, will cover SEPs, offering a deep dive into a subject critical for many LESI members’ industries.

• Innovation Award: Over several years the LESI Innovation Trends committee has given out Innovation Awards to recognize successful IP commercialization through various business models and various forms of IP. This prestigious award has received record number of proposals this year, show-casing the attraction through several industries.

These efforts are part of a broader strategy to ensure that LESI remains a valuable resource for industries relying on IP and technology.

LESI: A Platform for Industry Success

In a world where innovation drives growth, LESI provides an unmatched platform for industries to thrive. We are an impartial, non-political and independent organization. From training and thought leadership to networking and collaboration opportunities, LESI equips its members with the tools they need to succeed in technology and IP-heavy sectors.

During this time of rapid change, staying connected with a peer network of decision-makers and tapping into LESI’s resources can make a significant difference for individuals and entire organizations. For industries looking to innovate, grow, and lead, LESI is a key partner on that journey.

Whether you’re an industry leader, decision-maker, or part of a team looking to enhance its expertise, LESI offers opportunities to grow and succeed. With a focus on industry engagement, LESI is helping businesses to fully use their potential in today’s IP-driven world.

Power of LES Committees – Why They Are Remarkable and Why Should You Join?

Are you curious about how global innovation thrives? Ever wonder who shapes the frameworks and conversations that drive intellectual property (IP) forward? Let’s talk about LES Committees, the backbone of Licensing Executives Society International (LESI). These dynamic groups are more than committees; they are communities of passionate professionals reshaping the way we think about IP, licensing, and technology.

What Do LES Committees Do?

LES Committees are hubs of innovation, collaboration, and thought leadership. Covering diverse areas—from life sciences to artificial intelligence, technology transfer to IP valuation—they cater to various industries and professional practices. Here’s how they make an impact:

1. Knowledge Sharing: Committees organize webinars, publish articles, and create resources like reports and guides. For instance, the Tech Transfer Committee’s “Termsheet Hackathon” brings practical insights into licensing agreements, blending creativity with expertise. You can experience it in our Annual Conference in Singapore!

2. Driving Global Collaboration: Committees like the Asia-Pacific Committee foster cross-border dialogue by connecting IP leaders and industry giants from countries like China, Japan, and Australia to exchange ideas on AI, data, and patent commercialization.

3. Advancing Social Goals: Committees like the SDG-IP Index Committee highlight companies contributing to Sustainable Development Goals, showcasing how IP can align with environmental and social responsibility.

4. Shaping Future Trends: The Innovation Trends Committee anticipates changes in IP frameworks, focusing on emerging areas like AI licensing and traditional knowledge systems. They decide who will achieve the prestigious LES Innovation Award.

Why Is It Great to Be Involved?

1. Global Networking Opportunities: Imagine connecting with top experts from leading companies in your field. Whether through committee meetings, projects, webinars, conferences, or roundtables, LES Committees offer unparalleled access to global leaders in IP and licensing.

2. Skills Development: for example, the Women in Licensing Alliance (WILA) empowers members with mentorship programs and leadership workshops, helping participants excel professionally. WILA has earlier promoted a mentoring program and is actively role modeling women in IP leadership.

3. Making an Impact: LESI Committees tackle real-world challenges. For example, the Dispute Resolution Committee explores cutting-edge topics like FRAND disputes and the Unified Patent Court’s impact on global litigation strategies.

4. A Platform for Creativity: From innovative panel discussions to landmark publications, LES Committees enable members to explore and implement creative solutions. The Life Sciences Committee's collaboration on AI and smart cities for our Singapore Annual Conference is a prime example.

Why Join an LES Committee?

If you’re a professional in IP, licensing, or technology, LES Committees are your gateway to professional growth, global influence, and impactful innovation. Membership gives you access to:

• Exclusive knowledge-sharing events

• Collaborative opportunities with leaders worldwide

• A chance to shape the future of IP management

The beauty of LES Committees lies in their diversity and the passion of their members. Together, they ensure that the IP ecosystem continues to innovate and evolve.

Interested in joining? Visit LESI.org and discover how you can be part of this vibrant community. Let’s shape the future of IP together!

Building Connections and Expertise: How LESI Helps IP Professionals Succeed Globally

In today’s fast-changing global economy, the effective management and commercialization of intellectual property (IP) is more important than ever. The Licensing Executives Society International (LESI) plays a leading role in this space, providing valuable resources and opportunities for its members. LESI’s mission is clear: “to enable a global, collaborative, and generous community, advancing the commercialization of intellectual assets to bring creativity and innovation to the market, improving lives everywhere.”

Professional Development and Learning

LESI is deeply committed to supporting the professional growth of its members. Through various educational programs, workshops, and conferences, members gain access to the latest knowledge and best practices in IP management and licensing. One of its standout offerings is les Nouvelles, a quarterly journal filled with detailed articles, analysis, and expert commentary on topics ranging from licensing to technology and IP. Many members value this publication as one of the greatest benefits of their membership.

LESI also organizes a range of events, including its Annual Conference and regional meetings like the Pan-European and Pan-Asian Pacific conferences. These events help members stay informed about key trends and developments in the world of IP.

Sharing Knowledge and Volunteering

At its core, LESI fosters an environment where members collaborate, share knowledge, and give back to the professional community. The society operates through various committees, including Industry committees (e.g. Patent and Technology Licensing), Professional committees (e.g. Education), and Regional Committees (e.g. Asia Pacific and European), as well as initiatives like the Young Members Congress (YMC) and the Women in Licensing Alliance (WILA).

These committees handle a wide range of activities: creating and curating content for LES events worldwide, collaborating with public bodies and other organizations, researching important licensing topics, developing educational materials and providing training, and even providing input to legislative and regulatory bodies.

LESI encourages its members to volunteer in these initiatives, which allows them to grow their leadership skills, broaden their knowledge, make meaningful contributions to the global IP field and be recognized as thought leaders.

Building Meaningful Professional Networks

One of the greatest benefits of LESI membership is the opportunity to build a strong professional network. With 33 national and regional societies and over 6,500 members across more than 90 countries, LESI provides unique access to a worldwide community of IP professionals across industries.

Members can connect with peers, mentors, and industry leaders using LESI’s international directory. Whether through in-person conferences, online forums, or virtual events, LESI provides plenty of opportunities to establish valuable professional relationships that often last a lifetime. In the era of social media these trusted professional connections really make a difference.

On the LESI website, many members have shared how LESI has helped them connect with leading professionals and stay updated on cutting-edge issues in licensing and IP. Speaking from personal experience, I have found that building an international professional network has been one of the most valuable outcomes of being part of LESI. When working in an international setting, it is incredibly useful to know expert people around the world. If I need advice or help in any region, I can simply make a call and immediately connect with the best professionals in the field.

A Window to the World for National Societies

LESI not only supports individual professionals but also serves as a bridge between national societies and the global IP landscape. Acting as a window to the world, LESI connects local societies to international activities, helping them develop from local to global influence and expanding their members’ network of opportunities. LESI provides a platform for cooperation, enabling national societies to participate in international initiatives while supporting their outreach efforts at home. By fostering collaboration and offering resources, LESI helps national societies strengthen their impact and better serve their members.

Global Membership Program

LESI also offers tailored programs to meet the specific needs of multinational organizations. The Global Membership Program, for example, allows companies to provide LES membership benefits to their employees globally under a single annual fee.

This initiative connects teams to LES’s expansive network and ensures they have access to the latest resources, educational events, and networking opportunities. It also removes the hassle of managing separate memberships in different regions, making it a practical choice for large organizations.

A Global Community for IP Professionals

In a world where intellectual property drives innovation and economic success, LESI offers an unparalleled platform for IP professionals to thrive. Whether through its focus on professional development, knowledge-sharing opportunities, volunteer activities, or global networking, LESI provides members with the tools they need to succeed in their field.

Joining LESI means becoming part of a global community that is dedicated to advancing the business of intellectual property, promoting innovation, and ultimately making a positive impact worldwide.

Visit lesi.org to learn more about how LESI can help you grow professionally and connect with like-minded experts.

President’s Message to LESI Global News

This article was published in the LESI Global News VOL 1 2025.

The Momentum is Building!

Dear LESI Members,

As we move into the fourth quarter of my presidency, I am excited to share the remarkable progress we have made together as a global community and highlight the path ahead. This year has been demonstrating the power of collaboration and living through our Vision and Mission. I want to celebrate the achievements we’ve accomplished so far while reinforcing the priorities that will drive us toward a successful conclusion of this term.

In alignment with our LESI Vision and Mission, we have made progress on the three priorities set for this society year: Raising Visibility Globally, Engaging and Activating Members and Stakeholders, and Driving a Diversified Funding Model.

1. Raising Visibility Globally Our efforts to enhance visibility are yielding tangible results. Through a multi-channel approach—including social media, on-line webinars, our renewed website, the Global News, les Nouvelles magazine, our visible conferences, strategic partnerships and even visible individual members —we have expanded our reach and strengthened our presence worldwide.

Many of our committees are using this approach and build value for our members by arranging online webinars and creating articles as follow-up. Our national societies are actively reporting their events in the global news and social media. Several individual members, including myself, are communicating about our events, causes and activities. Social media channels are being established by national societies who did not have them, and those who have, are more actively present. All these efforts demonstrate that we can communicate more and  build value for our members. After all, everyone wants to be part of something people talk about.

LESI board and a few individuals active in the social media are making a “tips and tricks” guideline for social media presence to help our national and regional societies in building their on-line presence in social media. I expect this to be ready for use early next year. Another significant effort of communication and visibility during my term, is to create a special issue of LES Nouvelles on the field of Standard Essential Patents (SEPs). This landmark must-read of the topic will be available in March and will be a printed handout in our Annual Conference in Singapore.

2. Engaging and Activating Members and Stakeholders This year, we have focused intensely on strengthening our engagement with industry professionals, members, and partners. Industry-specific invited meetings, such as those held at our Annual Meeting in Madrid, in LES Benelux and in LES China Annual Conferences, have received overwhelmingly positive feedback. One of key value items for our industry members is to be able to network and build relatioships to other industry leaders. We have worked hard to create a balanced and neutral non-profit platform for industry discussions and sharing. These initiatives are creating a more inclusive and industry-friendly LESI that benefits not only businesses but also academia, research institutions, and expert service providers.

A significant milestone in this effort was our industry delegation visit to Beijing, China, where we engaged with key authorities and attended the LES China Annual Meeting. We were able to bring together industry leaders from China and across the world for joint discussion. This initiative not only amplified LESI's visibility but also fostered valuable connections with LESI and industry leaders in the region.

Building on this success, we are now preparing for similar engagements in Latin America, particularly in Chile and Brazil. In collaboration with local patent offices and WIPO, these efforts will further expand our global network, enabling meaningful cross-border collaborations and positioning LESI and our members as a key players in the global IP ecosystem. This engagement is a concrete action continuing the collaboration under the work plan LESI made together with WIPO in October 2024. Finally, I expect our Singapore Annual Conference to role model the industry-friendliness through the diverse and top-notch program, practical workshops and industry visits.

Looking ahead, I encourage all members and national societies to leverage our global connections and opportunities and share your expertise and insights to help us further grow as a global community.

3. Driving a Diversified Funding Model We have made progress in securing partnerships that provide sustainable value beyond our annual conferences and membership fees. The continued success of the Thought Leadership Program for the third year in a row exemplifies this approach, offering high-quality, curated webinar and live content with our partners while generating income to support our goals. We are piloting new partnership opportunities that carry out collaboration for longer term than just one conference at a time. This will enable building more strategic relationships and offer value and insight for members and collaboration platform for our partners. These initiatives are essential for ensuring our resilience in an ever-changing landscape.

Looking Ahead to Singapore 2025 All of these efforts are building momentum for our much-anticipated Annual Conference in Singapore in April 2025. This event will be a celebration of what we have achieved and a great opportunity to set the course for the future success of LESI. It will also mark the conclusion of my term as president, and I am eager to see the culmination of our collective efforts come to life at this landmark event.

I warmly invite each of you to join us in Singapore and to contribute to the success of this important gathering. Your participation is vital to making this conference an inspiring and memorable experience for everyone involved.

Together, let’s continue to push boundaries, strengthen connections, and drive LESI forward as the global leader in intellectual asset management.

#LESisMore

At Your Service, Sonja London President of LESI 2024-2025

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#LESisMore: Visible, Industry-friendly, Engaging and Sustainable

This article was originally published in LES Global News VOL 4, October 2024.

First quarter went so fast!

As always the society year starts with appointments of the committees and meetings with the committee leadership and the LES society presidents. In these kick-off meetings the newly adopted LESI Vision and Mission as well as the priorities for this society year were presented and discussed.  My ask for all the committees and national societies is to take our Vision and Mission, think about what they mean to your respective committee or national society and translate them into action – taking into account our priorities for this year.

These will be the priorities for the year 2024-2025:

1. Raise our Visibility Globally

2. Engage & Activate Members, Industry, Partners and Stakeholders

3. Drive a Diversified Funding Model

Our first priority is to raise our visibility globally. Visibility is the starting point of everything we do. Growing membership, being an attractive organization, being relevant for our members, industry, partners and stakeholders – it all starts by being visible. If we do not communicate about our purpose, our activities and goals, we will lose our relevance in the audience that matters. But if we are visible, we will be heard and we will get the mindshare in the audience, and all of our activities will get boosted.

There are many ways to increase visibility. We need to evolve and embrace the opportunities of social media and other digital channels while maintaining meetings and discussions in real life. LESI intends to support the visibility of committees and national societies and their activities with a multi-channel approach: we will use social media, the Global News, our website, emails and the les Nouvelles magazine. We will also use the support of our global partners’ networks to reach wider audiences – the High-growth Technology Business Initiative, our joint effort with European Patent Office as an example. During this year LESI will also develop easy to use “tips and tricks of Linkedin” to help boost the visibility of our committees and national societies.

Our second priority is engaging and activating members, industry, partners and stakeholders. This is the core of our vision to be the “go-to” global organization for professionals working with intellectual assets. Serving our members and creating opportunities for them to learn, share and network has always been the key priority. This year I have personally been working hard to bring industry into our activities. Having been in industry myself for the last 17 years, I have first hand knowledge on how valuable LES can be for a business.

We have tested industry-only meetings in a couple of our LESI Annual Meetings now and the feedback has been very positive. LES Benelux took this to the local level in their Annual Meeting with an informal lunch meeting setting. We have an industry delegation visiting Chinese authorities and attending the LES China Annual Meeting. I am expecting these activities to be a kick-off for a more industry friendly and engaging LES. I think this will also benefit our efforts to activate and engage our members and stakeholders in academia and research institutions, patent and trademark authorities and organizations, and of course also our partners in the expert service industry.

And lastly, our priority is to derive a diversified funding model. Our funding is mainly based on membership fees, supported by any surpluses from annual conferences. We need to create a funding model that enables our organization to reach its goals even if the income fluctuates from one year to the next. We already saw this happening during the pandemic when annual conferences were cancelled. Diversifying our funding means being less dependent on any single source and developing balanced income sources based on our content and valuable partnerships over longer periods.

We have already been running the Thought Leadership Program, the current year being the third consecutive year. The Thought Leadership Program creates valuable online content through a series of webinars over the year, followed by a ”grande finale” workshop at the annual conference. We have seen unique expertise shared by industry thought leaders, business leaders and judges. The program is made possible by our partners who help support it financially and provide their expertise. While this program has created a source of income for LESI, it is carefully curated and not a pay-to-play program. In addition, we are creating partnerships that create value for longer than just one annual conference at a time. These are being piloted with selected partners during the year.

Our next round of meetings with committee leadership and national society presidents is getting closer! I am asking all the committees, as well as all national and regional societies to consider these priorities and again translate our vision and mission into action for this year. We will follow up, share and celebrate the success and learnings together!

#LESisMore

At Your Service,

Sonja London

President of LESI 2024-2025