The modernization of EU competition rules, particularly through the updated Technology Transfer Block Exemption Regulation (TTBER) and accompanying Guidelines effective from May 2022, has a significant impact on technology transfer and intellectual property (IP) licensing. The reforms aim to better reflect current market realities, including the rise of digital technologies and increased innovation dynamics. Key effects include clearer rules on licensing agreements, enhanced legal certainty for parties involved in technology transfers, and more tailored treatment of different types of IP rights and market power. The updated framework allows for more flexibility in licensing terms, especially regarding territorial restrictions and exclusivity, while maintaining strong safeguards against anti-competitive practices such as price-fixing or market partitioning. The modernization also addresses concerns about the balance between protecting IP rights and fostering competition, ensuring that licensing agreements do not unduly restrict innovation or market access. Overall, the updated EU competition rules facilitate technology transfer by reducing regulatory burdens where cooperation is pro-competitive, while still preventing abuses that could harm consumers or innovation ecosystems.