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The future of law, innovation and technology

Exploring the relationship between law, innovation and technology, and their impact on society's future

The FLITe research centre involves researchers and practitioners from the fields of intellectual property and emerging technologies law, innovation, sustainability, economics, artificial intelligence, data science and robotics.

Our core mission is knowledge transfer. We help the people and organisations that we work with, as well as broader society, to better understand the relationship between law, innovation and technology, and to discover how best to use this understanding for commercial benefit and societal impact. 

FLITe brings together a diverse and interconnected body of researchers from different faculties across the ºÚÁÏÈë¿Ú, as well as from other research intensive universities both in the UK and Europe. Our members also include industry facing personnel from technology transfer offices, and patent attorneys and patent examiners from leading law firms and NGOs including the European Patent Office. 

Our research includes:

  • Intellectual property law and the innovation life cycle 
  • Regulatory and legal governance of emerging technologies 
  • Global business sustainability and strategy 
  • The protection of personal data in cyberspace and high tech industries including fintech
  • The digital economy
  • The implications for intellectual property law of artificial intelligence 

Research highlights

We aim to develop outputs in:

  • Research â€” bringing together our expertise in law, innovation and technology to address the full spectrum of issues at the forefront of these disciplines
  • Education â€” by producing executive and professional development programmes that combine a comprehensive grounding in our core disciplines, along with a practical application to industry
  • Knowledge transfer â€” by partnering with organisations across industry, government and academia to support them in solving complex challenges using approaches and knowledge developed within FLITe

Active research projects

Ju, Z., Liu, H., Zhou, D.

01/03/2024 → 30/10/2026

Leonard, A., Middleton, K., Sekhon, J., Turnbull, S.

01/03/2024 → 01/09/2026

Publication highlights

2024

Zharikov, A.

5 Dec 2024, In: Transnational Dispute Management. 4, 15p.

Abdullahi, H., Bader-El-Den, M., Can, A. S., Esmeli, R.

1 Dec 2024, In: Decision Support Systems. 187, 11p., 114339

Pearce, H.

1 Nov 2024, In: Computer Law & Security Review . 55, 14p., 106052

Bai, D., Hao, Z., Jiang, D., Jiang, G., Ju, Z., Zhou, D.

1 Oct 2024, In: Measurement Science and Technology. 35, 10, 12p., 106131

Hooton, V., Pearce, H.

1 Sep 2024, In: Industrial Law Journal. 52, 3, p. 595–634

Cinar, E., Demircioglu, M. A., Simms, C., Suchitwarasan, C.

27 Jun 2024, In: The Journal of Technology Transfer

Hand, J.

12 Jun 2024, In: International Journal of Discrimination and the Law. 24, 1-2, p. 19-32, 14p.

Buck, C., Pearce, H.

1 Jun 2024, In: Information & Communications Technology Law. 33, 2, p. 177-197

Arthur-Holmes, F., Vazquez-Brust, D. A., Yakovleva, N.

1 Jun 2024, In: Journal of Environmental Management. 360, 29p., 121131

Baxter, D., Ellwood, P., Trott, P.

30 May 2024, In: IEEE Transactions on Engineering Management. 71, 13p.

Our members

Piratpal Singh Sekhon Portrait

Mr Joe Sekhon

Associate Head (Research and Innovation)

Joe.Sekhon@port.ac.uk

ºÚÁÏÈë¿Ú Law School

Faculty of Business and Law

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Jeremy Richard Lockwood Howells Portrait

Professor Jeremy Howells

Pro-Vice Chancellor (Research, Innovation & External Engagement)

jeremy.howells@port.ac.uk

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Henry Pearce Portrait

Media ready expert

Mr Henry Pearce

Senior Lecturer

Henry.Pearce@port.ac.uk

ºÚÁÏÈë¿Ú Law School

Faculty of Business and Law

PhD Supervisor

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Further members

  • Claire Dunning â€” ºÚÁÏÈë¿Ú Executive Director, Corporate Governance
  • Peter Aldred — ºÚÁÏÈë¿Ú Solicitor 
  • Pam Jones — Regional Development Manager, Research and Innovation Services ºÚÁÏÈë¿Ú
  • Chris Worrall — Innovation Director ºÚÁÏÈë¿Ú
  • Pat Smith — SME Business Unit Manager, Faculty of Business and Law, ºÚÁÏÈë¿Ú
  • Courtney Elkins — Business Support Coordinator, Faculty of Business and Law, ºÚÁÏÈë¿Ú

External members

  •  â€” Professor of Intellectual Property Law, Bocconi University 
  •  â€” Patent Advisor and Senior Lecturer in Intellectual Property Law, Lund University 
  • Georgia Tseliou â€” Patent Examiner Wireless Telecommunications,  
  •  â€” Partner: German and European Patent Attorney 
  •  â€” Associate Professor of Intellectual Property Law 
  •  â€” Lecturer in Innovation, Intellectual Property and Sustainability, Exeter University 
  •  â€” Senior Lecturer in Intellectual Property Law, Lund University
  •  â€” Senior Lecturer in Intellectual Property Law, Lund University 
  • Charlotte Henderson â€” Co-Founder & CEO of RevoNA Ltd
  • Freya Piper â€” Trainee Solicitor, Capital Law Ltd
  • Julian Kothe - Senior Legal Counsel IP&IT, Siemens Energy

Contact us

To find out more about our work, contact our Research Centre Director Joe Sekhon on joe.sekhon@port.ac.uk.