Shaping ideas about global innovation through interdisciplinary research and policy leadership
A tenured full professor at the University of Ottawa's Faculty of Law, Jeremy de Beer is a globally recognized researcher in the fields of intellectual property and open collaborative innovation. His research contributions span the disciplines of law, business, political science, international relations and public policy.
As a pioneer of large-scale, international, and interdisciplinary research partnerships, Professor de Beer's work has led to major policy breakthroughs and practical solutions, not only in Canada but worldwide. His outstanding contributions to Canadian intellectual property legislation, court decisions, and public policies over nearly two decades have played a pivotal role in solving practical challenges related to innovation in the digital economy, life science industries and the clean technology sector.
For nearly two decades, Professor de Beer has served as the co-director of the influential Open African Innovation Research Network (Open AIR), which he co-founded shortly after his arrival at uOttawa in 2004. Today Open AIR is a beacon of interdisciplinary international research, connecting dozens of researchers across African countries, Canada and elsewhere to scale up innovation by easing tensions between intellectual property and access to knowledge. Open AIR generates fresh intellectual, cultural, and social perspectives that are simultaneously influencing policy stakeholders globally while empowering grassroots communities in many parts of the world.
Professor de Beer is also a practicing lawyer and expert advisor who has argued 15 cases in the Supreme Court of Canada. His expertise has been sought by United Nations agencies and other international organizations, as well as Canadian and foreign government departments around the world to address policy challenges related to intellectual property law and reform.