Muhammad Citra Ramadhan; Fitri Yanni Dewi Siregar
Intellectual property (IP) protection in higher education institutions has largely been viewed as an administrative requirement focused on documentation and registration volume. This creates a paradox, as increasing research outputs are not matched by adequate legal protection, innovation downstreaming, and societal utilization of research results. Therefore, a reorientation is needed to position IP protection as a strategic instrument for building a fair innovation ecosystem. This community engagement program was conducted in LLDIKTI Region I institutions through presentations, discussions, and strengthening IP center capacity. Activities focused on mapping IP systems, identifying management challenges, and reinforcing a paradigm oriented toward innovation downstreaming and public benefit. Results show improved participant understanding of shifting IP protection from an administrative to a strategic approach. IP is increasingly recognized as a tool for innovation, technology transfer, and institutional competitiveness. This reorientation emphasizes inventor rights protection, fair benefit distribution, and broader public access to innovation within a sustainable and equitable ecosystem.