Proceedings of the International scientific and practical conference ―Science, Technology and Culture in the Era of Globalization‖ (December 24-26, 2025) / Publisher website: www.naukainfo.com. – Geneva, Switzerland, 2026. – 234 p.

8 1. Evergreening – extending patent protection through minor modifications of formulations or delivery systems; 2. Patent thickets – dense networks of overlapping patents that block market entry by competitors; 3. Data exclusivity – restrictions on the use of clinical trial data. These strategies significantly affect global access to medicine and agricultural technologies [8, p. 778]. Although the TRIPS Agreement (Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights, 1995) was formally negotiated among states, historians and political economists agree that pharmaceutical and agricultural TNCs exerted substantial influence over its structure. Industry associations such as PhRMA and CropLife International played key roles in defining agreement standards and lobbying for stronger IP protection. Following TRIPS, TNCs promoted TRIPS-plus provisions through bilateral and regional trade agreements, including extended patent terms, stricter compulsory licensing rules, expanded data exclusivity for biological medicines, and enhanced enforcement requirements. While beneficial to corporations, these rules reduce policy flexibility for developing countries. TNCs regularly provide expert testimony, legal analyses, and participate in advisory committees of WIPO, consultations with the U.S. Trade Representative, and hearings of the European Medicines Agency and the European Patent Office. Through these channels, corporations influence global standards of patentability, particularly regarding biotechnologies, genetic sequences, and biological materials [1, p. 926]. As TNCs invest billions in national research ecosystems, governments often align science policy to attract or retain these companies. This includes R&D (Research and Development) tax credits, IP reforms, accelerated regulatory pathways for pharmaceuticals, and public–private research partnerships. Such policies often shift national research priorities toward areas of commercial benefit for transnational companies rather than toward the public good.