Opening remarks for the 2006 conference in Madrid on the research use of patented inventions. The conference, which was held at CSIC on 18-19 May 2006, was jointly organised by the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), the Spanish Patent and Trademark Office (OEPM) and the OECD, with support from the European Patent Office (EPO) through its European Patent Academy. The conference brochure is also included as an attachment to the Opening remarks file.It is well established that communication of results among scientists of different institutions all over the world is essential for science and science advancement. Not only to be able to perform incremental research but, above all, to achieve those breakthroughs that have, along the last couple of centuries, improved the quality of life. Communication of results, sharing of experiences, exchange of researchers, etc., are therefore considered essential for us. Short after the Bayh-Dohle Act (1980) was passed in United States, allowing universities to patent inventions in order to promote technology transfer, the CSIC set up its Office for Technology Transfer (OTT), thus becoming in 1986 one of the first research institutions in Europe to recognize the need to structure and support technology transfer.