A better understanding of the relationship between IPRs and FDI is indispensable for countries that would like to pursue an innovation-driven development strategy and effectively create a more FDI-friendly global business environment as well as build a smoother and more effective open economic system. Gaining further insights into this relationship will shed further light in IPR protection disputes between countries and regional blocks that have erupted in recent years. The recent media attention to China’s commitment to strengthening its judicial protection of IPRs to properly enforce its formal institutional arrangements and honour international rules and trade/IPR agreements, attests to this. The need for such research effort is therefore of paramount importance. A prospective PhD candidate is expected to delve into the controversial aspects of IPRs by utilizing a recently updated index - The Index of Patent System Strengths – that rates the effectiveness of the patent systems of 49 countries by focusing on the enforcement of patent legislation.
Expression of interests should be directed to Professor Constantinos Alexiou.
Email: constantinos.alexiou@cranfield.ac.uk
