Traditional innovation models emphasize the prominent role of the producer as the source of innovation, and this logic still often dominates research, practice and policy approaches to innovation. However, we know from numerous examples, and from a growing body of research, that also users may be the sources of innovation, which has major implications for academia, industry and policymaking. In this seminar, Prof. Eric von Hippel will build on his seminal work on the role of users in innovation to argue for a new “Free Innovation Paradigm” as a growing phenomenon. Prof Pedro Oliveira will furthermore explain the pivotal role that patients and caregivers play in the development, diffusion and adoption of certain innovations. On this basis, this seminar offers a platform to discuss the sources of health innovation, and the particular role of (the lack of) intellectual property (IP) in this context, as well as the implications for regulatory oversight (e.g. through the FDA & EMA) and for biomedical innovation in general. Because users as innovators fundamentally challenge the measurements, economics, business models and regulatory frameworks in the face of innovation, we need to discuss how researchers, practitioners and policymakers need to work with this growing phenomenon, and how bridging some of these domains and disciplines may help us in further developing this domain. Programme 09:00 - 09:15 Welcome by Professor Timo Minssen, CeBIL – Innovating and regulating patient-driven innovation in the health sciences 09:15 - 09:45 Professor Eric von Hippel, MIT – “Free innovation - no IP required?” 09:45 - 10:15 Professor Pedro Oliveira, CBS – “Development, diffusion and adoption of health innovations by patients and caregivers” 10:15 - 10:45 Professor Marcel Bogers, IFRO: Panel Debate 10:45 - 11:00 Concluding remarks 11:00 - 11:30 Closing and refreshments