In today’s innovation-driven economy, success in IP management is no longer defined by legal expertise alone. The ability to communicate complex concepts, build trust with clients, navigate intercultural negotiations, or lead innovation teams is just as crucial. Recognizing this, a powerful new collaboration has emerged between the Resource Hub on the digital IP lexicon 🔗dIPlex, the IP Business Academy, and the I3PM Committee for Personal Growth and Soft Skills Development.

This partnership marks a turning point in professional development for IP experts, transforming the way soft skills are identified, trained, and applied in practice.

The Origin: Strasbourg’s Soft Skills Breakthrough

The collaboration was born out of the I3PM International Conference 2025 held at CEIPI in Strasbourg. Under the title “Navigating IP in the Digital Transformation”, the event included a dedicated Soft Skills Track — a first in the history of this high-profile IP gathering.

And it was a success. The sessions were fully booked. The discussions were engaging. The demand for practical, actionable content on soft skills was overwhelming.

As noted in the conference recap, this track revealed a critical need: IP professionals are facing increasing pressure to go beyond technical knowledge. They are expected to take on leadership roles, influence decision-makers, and build stakeholder alignment across business units. And yet, the tools to help them grow in these areas are often scattered, generic — or missing altogether.

A Strategic Alliance with Clear Roles

The follow-up to the conference was swift and focused. Three expert-led entities joined forces:

1 . The IP Business Academy

With its strong foundation in academic research and real-world training, the Academy took on the role of identifying the relevant needs. As Prof. Dr. Alexander Wurzer and his team at the Academy have long argued, the digital transformation of innovation ecosystems demands a new skill set: interdisciplinary thinking, digital communication, strategic storytelling, and emotional intelligence.

During a recent live LinkedIn interview at the CEIPI IP Business Talks, Maria Boicova-Wynants, Chair of the I3PM Committee, emphasized how these soft skills are not optional extras, but central enablers of professional success.

2 . The I3PM Committee for Personal Growth and Soft Skills Development

This Committee, founded within the International Institute for IP Management (I3PM), contributes a practitioner’s view. Members evaluate which tools and learning formats are actually helpful in the field. This includes reviewing existing support services, suggesting practical improvements, and ensuring that real-life challenges — like presenting to non-IP audiences or managing conflicts — are addressed head-on.

3 . The dIPlex Resource Hub

Hosted on profwurzer.com, the Resource Hub is the distribution channel for these newly prioritized resources. It transforms insights into action: offering free downloads, interactive tools, and video-based learning tailored to IP experts. It serves as a curated library of business development tools for the modern IP professional.

Why This Collaboration Matters for IP Professionals

This is not about vague advice or motivational buzzwords. The collaboration is focused on concrete professional transformation. Here’s why this initiative is essential right now:

  • Legal expertise alone is not enough
    Clients expect their IP advisors to provide strategic input across legal, business, and technology interfaces. That requires clear communication, agile thinking, and the ability to simplify without dumbing down.
  • AI and digital tools change the game
    As automation increases, the human differentiators become more important. Emotional intelligence, ethical judgment, and soft skill agility are central to making IP work future-proof.
  • Soft skills are teachable — but not often taught
    Law firms, patent departments, and IP organizations often lack structured learning paths for these skills. The collaboration fills this gap with accessible, tested formats.

What You’ll Find in the Resource Hub

As a result of the collaboration, the dIPlex Resource Hub now acts as the go-to place for practical soft skill development. It’s not a course platform — it’s a professional companion for ongoing growth. Here’s what’s available:

  • Tips & Tricks Lists
    Short, focused checklists for real-world challenges like “How to Explain IP to Non-Experts” or “How to Speak with Innovation Managers.”
  • Self-Assessment Tools
    Interactive check-ups help IP professionals discover their strengths and blind spots in areas like negotiation style, client orientation, or presentation confidence.
  • Practical Guides
    Downloadable PDFs that walk users through topics such as “LinkedIn Optimization for Patent Attorneys” or “How to Create a Digital IP Portfolio.”
  • Video Courses
    Structured learning journeys — for example, on digital marketing, client conversion, or personal branding — broken into 5–10 minute video lessons tailored to the IP field.
  • One-on-One Coaching
    For those who want personalized feedback, the platform offers direct access to experienced coaches who understand the IP context and the pressures of the profession.

Key Soft Skills the Collaboration Promotes

From the ongoing needs analysis and resource curation, several core skill areas have emerged:

  • Strategic Communication
    Learning to present IP strategy in terms that resonate with business stakeholders.
  • Digital Visibility & Branding
    Positioning oneself online as an expert — without overselling or relying on generic content.
  • Client Engagement & Listening
    Building long-term relationships through empathy, structure, and clarity.
  • Leadership in Innovation Teams
    Taking initiative, mediating conflict, and connecting diverse knowledge holders.
  • Resilience & Self-Management
    Handling pressure, change, and ambiguity with professionalism and presence.

Learning Formats That Fit into the IP Workday

A critical factor in the design of the Resource Hub tools is that they respect the reality of the IP profession. That means:

  • Short formats: Time is tight, so most tools take only a few minutes to use.
  • No fluff: Every resource is directly applicable to real-life tasks.
  • Free access: Many materials are free, lowering barriers for those who just want to try out new strategies before investing more.

The Future: From Awareness to Culture

The long-term goal of this collaboration is not just to train individuals, but to foster a culture where soft skills are valued and continuously developed. That includes:

  • Encouraging law firms and in-house teams to integrate soft skill development into onboarding and mentoring.
  • Making soft skill learning a regular part of professional identity in the IP world — not an afterthought.
  • Showing that business development, strategic thinking, and interpersonal mastery are not side jobs — but part of what it means to be an excellent IP professional in the 2020s.

A New Chapter for IP Professionals

This three-way collaboration is more than a content initiative. It represents a paradigm shift. One where IP professionals are supported not only as legal or technical experts but as communicators, mentors, and strategic advisors.

And it starts now — with the tools and insights available for free on the Resource Hub, supported by the IP Business Academy and reviewed by the I3PM Soft Skills Committee.

If the Strasbourg conference proved anything, it’s this: IP expertise needs a human upgrade. And with this partnership, that upgrade is within reach.