Give and take ... Sharing brings "economic benefit" ... when licensing agreements are concluded which entitle you to use the IP rights of others (i.e. those who are strong in knowledge grant those who are economically strong the privilege of commercially exploiting IP rights). Both of them benefit.
Licensing agreements can be concluded in relation to patents, utility models, trade marks or designs and even for confidential know-how. The latter must in that case really be confidential, must be contractually defined and must also be "of significance" in the licensed technological field.