Talk innovation: unlocking technology (European Patent Office)

Moderator: Fernando Tiberini

Guest: Luke Alphey, Group Leader, Arthropod Genetics, The Pirbright Institute

According to a World Health Organisation fact sheet, half of the world’s population is at risk of contracting dengue, a deadly mosquito-borne viral infection. Luke Alphey has spent two decades developing DNA-based solutions to slow the spread of disease. His current research looks at gene drives and techniques that could ensure beneficial traits are passed on in mosquitoes.

Funding constraints are often a barrier to innovation, but patents can help raise funding when used as collateral. In this podcast Dirk Czarnitzki, professor in the Department of Management, Strategy and Innovation at the KU Leuven in Belgium and Felix Bracht, doctoral researcher, will discuss patent characteristics relevant in loan negotiations and estimate the level of debt firms can rise by pledging patents.

This episode is moderated by Catalina Martínez García, senior researcher in the Institute of Public Goods and Policies at the Spanish National Research Council.

Download full research project report: https://www.epo.org/learning/materials/academic-research-programme/research-project-grants.html

Join EPO experts for a unique journey through the technoscape

Just how much passion and know-how goes into creating the many new inventions that shape our daily lives? If you enjoy great insider stories about science and technology, then don’t miss this unique journey through the entire technoscape. For researchers, inventors, investors, lawyers and anyone interested in how innovation is making the world a better place.

Meeting virtually for an after-work chat in the European Patent Bar, three patent attorneys discuss their work on the SACEPO Working Party on Guidelines. The latest version of the EPC and PCT-EPO Guidelines for examination have been published and come into force on 1 March. The experts discuss some of the key changes to the Guidelines, and the most significant topics which provoked debate within the Working Party, like adaptation to the description, claim-like clauses, colour drawings and changes proposed by the examiner. They even discuss what issues they expect to address in future (e.g. oral proceedings by videoconference). The EPO’s current user consultation on the Guidelines (until 15 April) invites more feedback from all patent professionals!

The views of the speakers are their own and not necessarily those of the EPO, epi, FICPI or BusinessEurope, nor of EP&C, PV or BASF.

Moderator: Jordi Kox, associate partner at EP&C in Amsterdam, the Netherlands

Guests: Anette Hegner, senior European patent attorney at PV in Hellerup near Copenhagen, Denmark and Heiko Sendrowski, senior counsel at BASF in Ludwigshafen am Rhein, Germany

Take part in the online consultation

In 2019 the global market for vaccines was estimated to be worth $33 billion (US), barely 2.5% of the global market for pharmaceuticals. The COVID-19 pandemic has put vaccines into the spotlight. Helena Domingues and Zoran Cilenšek are experts in immunology and experienced examiners. They explain the evolving technologies, the new entrants and the changes in patent applicants’ filing behaviour.

Moderator: Jeremy Philpott, Communications Manager, EPO

Guests: Helena Domingues, patent examiner, EPO, and Zoran Cilenšek, patent examiner, EPO

See epo.org/patent-index2021

How can technology reverse climate change? Icelandic innovators are collaborating worldwide and using their geological know-how to tackle humankind’s greatest challenge. Intellectual property attorney María Kristjánsdóttir (LEX / GH Sigurgeirsson IP) and Bergur Sigfússon (head of CO2 capture and injection, CarbFix) discuss carbon capture and how IP can facilitate planet-saving partnerships.

Understanding the different types of intellectual property rights and their implications is key to knowing what’s right for you and your business and also when and why. But it requires a great deal of expertise, product and market knowledge and strategic thinking mostly mastered by professionals.  In this podcast Rut Herbjörnsen, European and Swedish patent attorney, will tell you more about the role of a patent attorney who can provide you with excellent advice on IP types, help you define the assets you want to protect and become a valuable business partner. Moderated by Alison Campbell, CEO of the United Kingdom Government Office for Tech Transfer.

This is the fourth episode in the series "Intellectual property (IP) as key commercial asset: the essentials".

How could you turn your ideas and creativity into profit? More specifically, how could you commercialise patents and other intellectual property (IP) to grow your business? This podcast series help inventors, researchers, entrepreneurs and anyone interested in the potential of IP take their first steps in the business world. IP experts from all over Europe will share their inspirational stories, know-how and strategies that can help you turn your idea into a business.

Moderator: Francesco Zaccà, Principal Director in Mobility & Mechatronics, EPO

Guests: Yann Ménière, EPO Chief Economist, Norbert Wienold, patent examiner in ICT, databases and business methods 

Yann Ménière, EPO Chief Economist joins Norbert Wienold, patent examiner in ICT, databases and business methods to discuss the latest economic study on the patent trends for technologies which enable our data-driven economy. “Data is the new oil” – whoever has the most data has the most wealth and power! The study reveals that the growth in patents for e.g. smart, connected devices, combined with 5G and AI, is running at five times the rate for other technical fields. So-called “4IR” technologies now comprise 11% of all patent applications to the EPO, and could be contributing over €2.2 trillion to the EU’s GDP by the end of this decade. The impact of these disruptive technologies on industry, our economies and our lives will be enormous and, as our experts explain, some countries are advancing more than others.

What makes inventors tick? We at the EPO have launched a new talk series - Inspiring inventors - which gives you a unique opportunity to interact with the inventors, learn from their inspiring experiences, and take a closer look at what goes into successfully bringing an invention to market. 

In the first instalment, Italian physicist and company founder Marco Donolato shares his journey with patent examiner Edward Cooke. Nominated for the Award in 2021, Donolato and his team developed an automated device to test for infectious diseases. The invention uses a modified Blu-ray optical pick-up to detect light scattered by magnetic nanoparticles clustered around target antibodies. The low-cost, easy to use device can diagnose dengue, Zika or SARS-CoV-2 from a single drop of blood, making it ideal for resource poor regions.

Read more about Marco Donolato

Moderator: Abderrahim Moumen, director in patent examination, EPO

Guest: Günter Hein, Chairman of the Executive Board, Munich Aerospace

The Galileo satellite navigation system already provides world-leading accuracy and is only at the Initial Operational Capability stage, with 22 active satellites in orbit. In the years ahead, the system will be improved so that it can offer a full range of services. Gunter Hein, co-inventor of the radio signals, gives us a glimpse at the future and discusses the role of Galileo in ensuring autonomy for Europe.

Leading patent professionals, scientists, and academics tackle one of society’s biggest challenges: gender equality in tech careers.  This special episode, hosted by Roberta Romano-Götsch (EPO Chief Sustainability Officer), features highlights from the EPO’s recent roundtable discussions on women inventors.

> Read full study or key findings

> Watch all panel discussions in full

Additive manufacturing (AM) is a disruptive technology coming of age. The EPO’s latest study reveals explosion in global patenting activity in 3D printing and other forms of AM, now being deployed in construction, healthcare and transport. Patent filings for AM inventions are increasing at eight times the rate across all technologies, as AM comes out of its niche as a prototyping tool and enters the mainstream at the centre of manufacturing.

Moderator: Jeremy Philpott (Communications manager, EPO)

Guests: Ilja Rudyk (Senior Economist, EPO) and Judy Ceulemans (Senior Expert, EPO)

Download the study

More about additive manufacturing on our website

A simple cheek swab could begin a new lease on life for patients with leukaemia. Stem cell typing is the first step in matching patients with donors. Join us to learn about typing from donors, people who've conquered a blood cancer, a biotechnology expert and a PR manager at an NGO that recruits donors and supports patients. We'll also provide details on an up-coming stem cell typing drive in Munich and The Hague, one of the ways we are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the European Patent Convention this year.

Moderator: Sabine Lunau, EPO Communications manager

Guests:

Aliki Nichogiannopolou, EPO Director: DNA, peptide and cell biotechnology

Andreas Böhm-Pélissier, member of an EPO Boards of Appeal

Jennifer Andersen, DKMS, Public relations manager

Physicist Karl Leo tells us how his doped OLEDs transformed electronics and could contribute towards a more sustainable future. He also offers inspiring advice to young innovators and provides a fascinating look at his career. Leo won the European Inventor Award in Lifetime achievement in 2021. This episode is moderated by James Nurton. 

Read more about Karl Leo

There are many players in Europe’s IP ecosystem, some offering mostly free advice and support, others providing paid-for legal services. These need not be rivals, but rather complement each other. A good example is how over 300 PATLIB centres, found in many major European cities, can work with local patent attorneys to support inventors and entrepreneurs.

Christoph Hoock, Director at PATON, patent centre of Thuringia, a PATLIB in Germany and Jasper Werhan, partner at the Patent Attorney firm Meissner Bolte also in Germany, have built a strong working relationship over the last 30 years. They describe their cooperation as a win-win-win situation benefiting each of their organisations and their clients too. They explain the role of PATLIB centres, who their customers are and why patent attorneys and PATLIB centres should be working together to increase their client base and provide the best services to inventors and thereby promote innovation in Europe. This episode is moderated by EPO examiner Ed Cooke.

Find out more about PATLIBs

Save the date for the PATLIB2022 online conference

Do we have knowledge cohesion across Europe? How does it differ from convergence? There is vast research on cohesion policy in Europe which still has to be developed on the grounds of measurement and the links between convergence and cohesion. In this podcast, Semih Akçomak tells us how to use patent collaboration and EU Framework Project collaboration data to analyse knowledge convergence and cohesion.

This episode is moderated by Catalina Martínez García, senior researcher in the Institute of Public Goods and Policies at the Spanish National Research Council.

Download full research project report: https://www.epo.org/learning/materials/academic-research-programme/research-project-grants.html

The rate at which plastics are produced (about 50 million tonnes per year) is outpacing our ability to manage the resulting waste. New technologies will help us all to better reduce, reuse and recycle plastics. Patent examiners Wibke Meiser and Maxime Dossin are two of the co-authors of the EPO’s latest study that reveals the innovation trends in chemical and biological recycling, as well as the growth in research into plastics that can self-repair and are easier to recycle. In this podcast they share their detailed knowledge of these booming technologies and interpret the statistics and trends in global innovation as measured through international patent filings. The episode is moderated by Jeremy Philpott, Communications Manager, EPO.

Moderator: Fernando Tiberini

Guest: Oliver Hayden, Director, TranslaTUM

Blood tells a story and if you could read it, you would know how healthy a person is. Oliver Hayden has spent his career leading ground-breaking research into blood analysis and is driving accurate diagnoses in diseases ranging from malaria to the coronavirus. The former European Inventor Award winner also provides a glimpse of his work at the Technical University of Munich.

Moderator: Fernando Tiberini

Guest: Elmar Mock, Inventor and entrepreneur

There are few who think outside the box quite like Elmar Mock. There are also few who have been as prolific – Elmar is named as the inventor or co-inventor in 178 patent families and has worked on some 800 projects. But what makes the co-inventor of the famous Swatch tick? How does he approach the inventive process? Inventing, it seems, is not a straightforward process.

Inspiring Inventors 

Hearing loss, high blood pressure, heart disease…these are just some medical issues that can be caused by loud noise. Friends and business partners Rhona Togher and Eimear O’Carroll are tackling this problem with an advanced acoustic material that can dampen noise in a variety of applications. What began as a school science fair project evolved into a business with a unique product and exceptional potential. In this episode, we explore Rhona’s journey and how friendship became the foundation for a groundbreaking business. We’ll also hear about the vital support they received from local business development organisations and patent attorneys.  

 Moderator: Edward Cooke, EPO, patent examiner 

Inspiring Inventors:

Each episode features a former European Inventor Award finalist, delves into the story behind their invention and provides insights on how they took their idea from the lab to the market. 

Moderator: Nigel Clarke, expert in patent information, EPO

Guest: Orla Feeney, patent examiner, EPO

Scientists’ understanding of the properties and behaviour of light has hugely benefited our everyday lives. Meet Orla Feeny to learn how optics can help keep your finances safe, support you while driving and of course provide extraordinary views of a clear night sky!

Moderator: Fernando Tiberini

Guest: Ian Frazer, Professor of Medicine, The University of Queensland

Ian Frazer is a world-renowned immunologist who co-invented the HPV vaccine to prevent cervical cancer. Today, Ian guides research on several fascinating and ambitious projects, including the total eradication of cervical cancer, and also shares insight on coronavirus treatments. In this podcast, the former European Inventor Award winner discusses the journey to the HPV vaccine, the role of patents in driving innovation, and the challenges faced in reducing deaths, despite the availability of vaccines.

This is the remarkable story of how four female researchers from a Turkish university laboratory secured market success for their new product to treat chronic wounds. It is told by Evren, one of the researchers and a co-founder of the spin-off company Dermis Pharma, and Mustafa, the university’s commercialisation manager. They reveal how a collaborative approach to commercialising patented technology can overcome unforeseen setbacks. The podcast is one of several based on the inspiring technology transfer case studies that the EPO published in summer 2021.

As an inventor, micro-entity, startup or university researcher, how do you keep abreast of the latest technology developments? While some believe patents lock away knowledge, keeping it from the public - nothing could be further from the truth. Find out how you can leverage free patent databases to succeed in your line of business. 

An episode in a weekly pilot series of bite-sized podcasts designed to give inventors, startups, entrepreneurs, and micro-entities and other businesses the tools to protect their technology with intellectual property (IP). Tune in every Friday at 9.00 am (also on YouTube & LinkedIn) to supercharge your innovation journey!

More information at:

New to patents

Startup guide

The general information in these podcasts provides only a broad overview and is not comprehensive. It is not a substitute for legal advice specific to your own needs, nor should it be relied upon exclusively. You should consult a qualified professional (for example a European patent attorney) before taking any actions that could impact your business. 

Moderator: Rachel Free, Partner at CMS Cameron McKenna Nabarro Olswang in London, UK

Guests: Matteo Maccagnan, Partner at Studio Torta S.p.A. in Bologna, Italy and Minna Alarcon, Senior Patent Counsel at Henkel AG in Düsseldorf, Germany

Meeting virtually for an after-work chat in the European Patent Bar, three patent attorneys discuss their experiences of oral proceedings in opposition by videoconference (VICO) at the EPO. A lot has changed in the last year as the EPO’s pilot project has grown, with 2125 oppositions heard via VICO in the first half of 2021. Changes have been made to the technical platforms and legal frameworks to maintain transparency and access to justice despite the pandemic. The EPO’s current user consultation (until 30 September) provokes debate about what has gone well, and would could be the future of oral proceedings by VICO at the EPO.

Have your say!

When it comes to commercialising your technology, integrating intellectual property or IP,  into your business strategy can be a game-changer. IP can become an asset and essential marketing tool because it demonstrates credibility, sends a strong message about your market space and can help attract partners and investors. This podcast highlights how investing in IP at the right time can open many doors. Alison Campbell, CEO of the United Kingdom Government Office for Tech Transfer, talks to Maija Itkonen, serial entrepreneur, founder of the company Gold & Green. The company developed an entirely new plant-based protein and brought a range of new food products to the market.

This is the first episode is a new series - "Intellectual property (IP) as key commercial asset: the essentials". 

How could you turn your ideas and creativity into profit? More specifically, how could you commercialise patents and other intellectual property (IP) to grow your business? This podcast series help inventors, researchers, entrepreneurs and anyone interested in the potential of IP take their first steps in the business world. IP experts from all over Europe will share their inspirational stories, know-how and strategies that can help you turn your idea into a business.

Find out in our new series!

Moderator: Nigel Clarke, expert in patent information, EPO

Guest: Haider Al-Taie, Team Manager Electric Vehicles, EPO

Electric transportation is key to cutting pollution and creating a greener world. Meet Haider Al-Taie to learn more about this rapidly evolving field and how advances in infrastructure and electric vehicles can take it to the next level!

Almost 8% of patent filings at the EPO in 2023 were for computer technology, which includes the rapidly growing field of artificial intelligence. But which types of AI are growing especially fast and why? What do experts mean when they say that 2024 is the year of the embodiment of AI? And could the next superantibiotic be designed by AI?  

Moderator: 

Jeremy Philpott, EPO Communications manager 

Guests:  

Wiebke Hinrichs, EPO patent examiner 

André Fonseca dos Santos, EPO patent examiner 

EPO's Patent Index

Moderator: James Nurton, IP journalist

Guests: Marjorie Chopinaud and Miguel Angel Ruiz Ferrer, EPO

Nominations are open for the European Inventor Award 2022 and both the public and inventors may want to learn how to submit a proposal for Europe’s foremost innovation prize. In this episode, listeners will go behind the scenes with two EPO patent examiners as they discuss the nomination process, highlight eligibility criteria, and provide insight into the new Young Inventors prize.

Read more

The latest Patent Index shows that the top three fields of technology – digital communication, medical technology and computer technology – alone comprised nearly a quarter of all filings to the EPO in 2022. These areas are converging to create a revolution in smart healthcare, with devices monitoring, diagnosing and even treating us without a doctor’s opinion or a stay in hospital. The experts discuss the leading applicants in this exciting field and give insights into what is driving the innovations in smart health.

Moderator: Jeremy Philpott, Communications Manager, EPO

Guests: Carlos Rivera Pons, Team Manager EPO, and Riccardo Carta, patent examiner, EPO 

See epo.org/patent-index2022

Graduating in STEM and looking for your next career step? Looking to expand your international network?

Now's your chance to learn all you need to know about the Young Professionals Programme, first hand, from current participants.

Learn why Larisa applied to the programme, the benefits she's enjoyed most and how this hands-on experience with innovation has helped put her on the right career path.

Applications for 2024 are now open, for more information please visit: epo.org/pan-european-seal

Moderators: 

Persida Jovanovic, Young Professional in Talent Acquisition 

Penelope Piraino, Young Professional in Talent Aquisition

Guest:  

Larisa Turtureanu, Young Professional in Patent granting process

Loved this episode? ⁠Dive into Part II now!⁠

Moderator: Fernando Tiberini

Guest: Helen Lee, CEO, Diagnostics for the real world

Helen Lee left a career in industry to work on an invention that would be a game-changer in treating viruses such as HIV. Her device won a 2016 European Inventor Award and is now deployed several developing regions and is part of programmes to detect mother-to-child transmission of HIV. In 2020, Helen and her team developed atest for SARS-CoV-2. Their device, SAMBA II, delivers results in 90 minutes, giving medical professionalsan important weapon in fighting the spread of COVID-19.

Moderator: Nigel Clarke, expert in patent information, EPO

Simon Bennett, energy technology analyst at the International Energy Agency (IEA), joins EPO patent examiners Giuliano Gregori and Stefano Meini to discuss the latest innovation trends in battery and electricity storage technologies. This is essential listening for anyone interested in hopeful responses to the urgent question of climate change and follows the publication of the first EPO-IEA joint study, which shows a rapid increase in electricity storage inventions over the last decade. After listening to the podcast, you may wish to continue exploring the findings of the EPO-IEA study, learn more about the IEA’s work on technology innovation, the IEA’s Tracking Clean Energy Progress report and Special Report on Clean Energy Innovation, or discover the roots of today’s innovation in the work of Japanese inventor, Nobel laureate and European Inventor Award winner Akira Yoshino.

The EPO's latest study reveals massive global advances in diagnostics and treatments, with universities and public research institutes playing a major role. Innovation against cancer is growing rapidly and the wealth of free patent information in the EPO's newest technology platform is helping scientists to make more breakthroughs.  

Read the full study

Read the key findings

Access the Technologies combatting cancer platform

Guests: 

Laurent Deleu, Patent examiner, European Patent Office 

 IIlja Rudyk, Senior economist, European Patent Office  

Moderator: 

Jeremy Philpott, Communications manager, European Patent Office 

Is offshore wind energy the key to solving the climate crisis? A recent joint report reveals insightful findings, highlighting challenges and opportunities in this growing sector. Join study authors from the European Patent Office and International Renewable Energy Agency as they discuss this clean energy source.  

Full report

Guests: 

Francisco Boshell, Head Innovation and End Use Applications, IRENA 

Jaidev Dhavle, Associate Programme Officer, Innovation for the Energy Transition, IRENA 

Johannes Schaaf, EPO patent intelligence expert 

Moderator: 

Geert Boedt, EPO patent data analyst

Moderator: Stephanie Weber, Communication Manager, European IP Helpdesk

Guests: Brian Caulfield, Inventor and Professor of Physiotherapy, University College Dublin; Ciaran O’Beirne, Head of Knowledge Transfer, University College Dublin

Stress-induced urinary incontinence affects almost 400 million people worldwide. A novel device to treat this condition through electro-stimulation of muscles was developed by researchers at University College Dublin (UCD) and Bio Medical Research (BMR) in Ireland. Brian and Ciaran explain the technology behind the invention and how the university’s technology transfer office enabled the collaboration, paving the way to market success.

This podcast is one of a series based upon technology transfer case studies published by the EPO in the summer of 2021.

Read more

How can European startups bridge the funding gap they face compared to their US counterparts?  

 A recent study by the EPO’s Observatory on Patents and Technology highlights the important role of tech-savvy investors and provides a comprehensive mapping of investors supporting European innovators.  

 Discover the unique value that tech-focused investors bring to startups from Adéla Dvořáková, a Tech-to-Market Advisor at the European Innovation Council, and Sara Frykstrand Ångström, Head of Intelligence at Sweden's venture capital fund Industrifonden. Hear them discuss the study’s key findings as they share insights on the importance of a dual financing and IP strategy, the role of smart and patient capital and the need for a balanced pipeline of investors at various stages of a startup’s technological maturity. They also discuss the main challenges European investors face compared to their US counterparts. 

 Moderator: 

Pere Arque Castells, EPO Observatory on Patents and Technology 

 Guests: 

Adéla Dvořáková, Tech –to Market Advisor, European Innovation Council 

 Sara Frykstrand Ångström, Head of Intelligence, Industrifonden  

Further resources: 

 “Mapping investors” study 

 Financing innovation programme of the EPO’s Observatory on Patents and Technology 

 Deep Tech Finder - EPO’s tool helping match startups with investors 

Moderator: Rainer Osterwalder, Director, Communication, EPO

Guest: Professor Dietmar Harhoff, Max Planck Institute for Innovation and Competition

Technical standards are key to securing the interoperability of devices such as smart phones and computers, and are often claimed in standard-essential patents (SEPs). But how can be verified whether a patent really pertains to a technical standard as claimed? In his podcast Dietmar Harhoff proposes a method based on semantic analysis to shed some light on the standard-essentiality of patent portfolios.

Moderator: Nigel Clarke, expert in patent information, EPO

Guest: Sonsoles Hernanz, patent examiner, EPO

Advances in metal processing have given countless enterprises a decisive technological advantage ever since the emergence of the first Bronze Age civilisations. More recently, welding even entered the field of plastics. Sonsoles Hernanz has the latest, including on how virtual reality helps to train welders, and how welding enables new products to be created using solid-state metal joining.

Moderator: Marjorie Chopinaud, Team Manager, EPO 

Guest: Laura van 't Veer, Co-founder and Chief Research Officer, Agendia

Inventor, researcher, professor and businesswoman: Laura van 't Veer wears many hats. She invented a gene-based breast cancer test that helps doctors decide whether a patient needs to undergo chemotherapy. Since winning the European Inventor Award in 2015, Laura’s invention was part of a large clinical trial which showed that many patients can overcome cancer without the devastating effects of chemotherapy.

Leading Tech Voices: digital technologies

As more technologies begin to converge and connect - heavily impacting fields such as healthcare and telecommunication – our experts see an increased need for greater awareness among inventors about the role of intellectual property in leveraging the potential of these inventions. 

 Additionally, how can patent law adapt to previously unforeseeable innovations?  

Discover the exciting possibilities that lie ahead with advancements in AI and quantum computing and explore how IP is shaping their progress.  

Moderator: 

Jessica Kuchenbecker, EPO examiner and team manager 

Speakers: 

Axel Ferrazzini, Managing director of 4IP Council 

Noam Shemtov, Professor of Intellectual Property and Technology Law at Queen Mary University 

This episode is part of a special podcast series where each episode focuses on one of five major technology areas. It builds on the EPO’s 50 Leading Tech Voices project, in which global tech leaders were invited to share how they believe inventiveness can help create a brighter and more sustainable future.  

You can read their statements and watch discussion panels on our website:  

Statements

Panel discussions 

EPO’s Deep Tech Finder 

EPO’s Patent Index

Moderator: Jeremy Philpott, Communications Manager, EPO

Guests: Yann Ménière, Chief Economist at the EPO and Nick Johnstone, Chief Statistician at the International Energy Agency (IEA)

The latest joint study from the EPO and IEA into low-carbon energy (LCE) technologies shows the urgent need for more innovation to respond to climate change. Many of the technologies we will need to meet carbon neutrality targets in the coming decades are still in development. The experts explain how “classic” green energy production technologies (wind, solar, geothermal and hydroelectric) have matured and LCE patenting activity in the last 3 years has been increasing at 3.3% p.a. – barely one quarter the rate seen a decade ago. Innovation is now seen in hydrogen, batteries, smart-grids and carbon capture. Electric vehicles are a particular driver for innovation. The study considered over 420,000 LCE international patent families from the last twenty years, revealing the very different specialisms in LCE technologies around the world.  

epo.org/trends-energy

Moderator: Nigel Clarke, expert in patent information EPO

Guest: Timea Garlati, examiner EPO

Whether you consider food and drink, medicines, cosmetics or Christmas trees, packaging technologies tend to be crucial in allowing us to take products home for instant use without a second thought. Join Timea Garlati for more on the challenges involved in making this possible and how the latest advances in convenient packaging are also helping to preserve the environment.

Moderator: Nigel Clarke, expert in patent information EPO

Guest: Ekkehard Weinberg, Team Manager Washing Machines / Dishwashers, EPO 

Our domestic appliances were never smarter than today. Now they are really starting to get themselves connected. EPO team manager Ekkehard Weinberg reveals how the latest developments do not only make our daily chores far less taxing but benefit our environment too.

Key figures from the intellectual property (IP) community discuss the  perceptions of quality and shared effort between the EPO and applicants in driving patent quality.

This episode explores key questions, including why patent quality is essential for businesses and how users can shape it. The conversation covers collaborative tools, legal robustness and ongoing initiatives aimed at enhancing clarity and consistency within the patent process.

Guests:

Steve Rowan, EPO, Vice-President Patent Granting Process

Peter R. Thomsen, Institute of Professional Representatives before the EPO (epi), President

Moderator:

Joff Wild, Sisvel, Head of Content, and IAM, former Editor in Chief

Leading Tech Voices: industries of the future

Has graphene lived up to the hype it generated 20 years ago? And what do 3D-printed ceramics and Egyptian pyramids have in common? In this episode, two expert entrepreneurs explain how these materials are contributing to sustainability across industries. With graphene as the potential key to more energy-efficient data centres, and additive manufacturing producing ultra-durable ceramics with a wide variety of applications in fields such as biomedicine, prepare to discover how these materials have been transformed for maximum impact.

Moderator:

Pia Björk, Director in the EPO’s Communication department and an engineer in materials science

Speakers:

Amaia Zurutuza, Scientific director at Graphenea

Johannes Homa, founder and CEO at Lithoz

This episode is part of a special podcast series where each episode focuses on one of five major technology areas. It builds on the EPO’s 50 Leading Tech Voices project, in which global tech leaders were invited to share how they believe inventiveness can help create a brighter and more sustainable future.  You can read their statements and watch discussion panels on our website:

Further information:

• Leading Tech Voices podcast playlist
• 50 Leading Tech Voices statements
• 50 Leading Tech Voices panel discussions
• EPO Chief Economist studies

Moderator: James Nurton, IP journalist

Guest: Sumita Mitra, European Inventor Award 2021 winner, Non-EPO countries

Description: This pioneering inventor was the first to successfully use nanotechnology to create dental fillings. Despite their minute size, nanoparticles create many challenges for scientists. In this episode, Sumita Mitra tells us how she overcame these obstacles to develop a filling used in over 1 billion dental restorations worldwide.

Read more

Innovation can fail in the gap between public research funding and private investment taking over, often termed the Valley of Death. But innovation culture also has a key role to play. 

Services offered by the European Innovation Council and the EPO’s network of over 320 PATLIB centres spread across Europe can help entrepreneurs cross the valley safely and thrive. 

Join Tom Withnell (EPO), Francesco Matteucci (Programme Manager, EIC) and Roberto Santolamazza (Managing Director,t2i PATLIB Centre, Italy) as they discuss these topics.

Patent information centres (PATLIB): https://www.epo.org/searching-for-patents/helpful-resources/patlib.html

European Innovation Council: https://eic.ec.europa.eu/index_en

European Innovation Council 2023 work programme: https://eic.ec.europa.eu/eic-2023-work-programme_en

Moderator: Rainer Osterwalder, Director, Communication, EPO

Guest: Dolores Modic, Postdoktor, Nord University Business School

Innovation and IP data are prototypical “big data” troves used by organisations for informed decision making and evidence-based policy development, Dolores Modic explains in her podcast. To facilitate this usage providers such as the EPO need to openly publish their data in a standardised machine-readable form on the Internet for enabling the sets to be interlinked. The IP Linked Open Data map builds bridges by connecting the EPO’s EP Linked Open Data with the Springer SCI Grass data and is available to the public. 

Moderator: Rainer Osterwalder, Director, Communication, EPO

Guest: Dr Önder Nomaler, Researcher at UNU-MERIT

Tracing the development of a technology in patents can hold quite a number surprises, Önder Nomaler tells us in his podcast. His method: don’t just consider individual patents, but establish a technology’s trajectory by considering related references such as citations from other patents. You’ll find that many of the green technologies have a non-green - or brown -  origin, as he calls it. Seeing both sides offers a wider view on these technologies, too.

Technology can kick green mobility into higher gear but you, as an individual, can also make a move! Learn what it takes and get on board with Ben Brown and Ciara Doyle from Going Green Media and EPO patent examiner Haider Al-Taie. Along the way you will learn about the latest trends in transportation, the challenges in the road ahead and about the important impact you can make with sustainable commuting. Let's drive into a greener future together!

Elena García Armada invented a robotic exoskeleton for children who use wheelchairs, vastly improving their rehabilitation. However, going from lab to market was no mean feat. The Spanish robotics expert had to navigate clinical testing, impress investors, learn about intellectual property and attract world-class engineers to work on her ambitious project. But seeing smiles on the faces of young patients who walk for the very first time have made the journey worthwhile. This episode is part of the Inspiring Inventors series, which looks at ground-breaking technologies and the people behind them. 

Moderator: Edward Cooke, Patent examiner, European Patent Office 

Guest: Elena García Armada, Co-founder and CEO, Marsi Bionics 

More about Elena García Armada: https://new.epo.org/en/news-events/european-inventor-award/meet-the-finalists/elena-garcia-armada

Leading Tech Voices: environment and food

With the global population rising and arable land decreasing due to climate change, how can we sustainably produce enough food while reducing the CO2 emissions caused by intensive agriculture?

Robin Simsa (Revo Foods) and David Mazur (Nestlé) discuss the need for new technologies to produce food and the pivotal role IP plays in bringing these sustainability breakthroughs to market.  You’ll find out what’s behind promising processes such as precision fermentation and 3D printed food, plus learn about what’s making plant-based foods more appealing (even to carnivores). 

Moderator: Ricardo Oltra, Patent examiner and team manager, European Patent Office

Speakers:

Robin Simsa, CEO, Revo Foods

David Mazur, General Counsel R&D, Nestlé

This episode is part of a series focusing on  five major technology areas. It builds on the EPO’s 50 Leading Tech Voices project, in which global tech leaders shared how they believe inventiveness can help create a brighter and more sustainable future.

You can read their statements and watch discussion panels on our website.

• Statements
• Panel discussions
• The EPO’s Observatory on Patents& Technology

Filing fees, attorney costs, translations.... How do you deal best with the expense when applying for a patent to protect your new technology? Find out what discounts might be available to you as a small business, a micro-entity, a startup, a non-profit organisation or a university or public research organisation when applying to the European Patent Office. Discover how these might give you a headstart on pursuing your business strategy – while managing your budget effectively. 

An episode in a weekly pilot series of bite-sized podcasts designed to give inventors, startups, entrepreneurs, and micro-entities and other businesses the tools to protect their technology with intellectual property (IP). Tune in every Friday at 9.00 am (also on YouTube & LinkedIn) to supercharge your innovation journey!

More information at:

New to patents

Startup guide

The general information in these podcasts provides only a broad overview and is not comprehensive. It is not a substitute for legal advice specific to your own needs, nor should it be relied upon exclusively. You should consult a qualified professional (for example a European patent attorney) before taking any actions that could impact your business.

Are you a new IT or computer science graduate looking to make a difference? Are you ready to kickstart your career in an international environment?  

Hear from Young Professional Metehan about his active role in EPO initiatives such as data protection in IT. Learn more about the networking and development opportunities he's enjoyed, how he's contributing to innovation and how the programme has fostered his personal and professional growth.  

Applications for 2024 are now open, for more information please visit: epo.org/pan-european-seal

Moderators: 

Persida Jovanovic, Young Professional in Talent Acquisition

Penelope Piraino, Young Professional in Talent Acquisition

Guest:

Metehan Malakçi, Young Professional in IT Sourcing, Risk and Compliance

Loved this episode? Dive into Part I now!

Inspiring inventors: Avelino Corma Canós

Avelino Corma Canós is a professor and co-founder of the Institute of Chemical Technology in Valencia, Spain. He won the Lifetime Achievement Award at the European Inventor Award 2023 in recognition of nearly 40 years of research in academia and industry, particularly focusing on zeolites – chemical catalysts used in industrial processes to reduce vehicle emissions, improve food, purify water or produce medicine. Recently, he’s also been awarded the Gold Medal of the European Chemical Society.

In this episode, we explore his inspirational journey, the relevance of IP in society and the importance of thinking outside the box.

Moderated by Edward Cooke, EPO patent examiner.

Each episode in this series introduces an inventor, delves into the story behind their invention and provides insights into how they brought their idea out of the lab and into the market.

Thanks to Gordana Vunjak-Novakovic, scientists now have a precise method to grow heart, lung, skeletal and vascular tissue for transplants, disease modelling, or drug testing. The Popular Prize winner at the European Inventor Award 2021 spoke to IP journalist James Nurton about her career, mentoring students, and advancements in tissue engineering.

Read more about Gordana Vunjak-Novakovic

Peek behind the curtain and learn about what goes into successfully bringing sustainable innovations to market. EPO patent examiner Edward Cooke speaks with bioscience engineering professor Johan Martens about the solar panel he co-invented which produces clean hydrogen from sunlight and moisture. Their conversation covers topics such as hydrogen energy, the UN's sustainable development goals and how Johan's invention is designed for varied climatic conditions. 

More about Johan Martens

How can you know if you’re spending your money wisely?  Think less about the cost and more about the value a patent can create for your business. Find out why investing in a patent may very well be worth it, for example, by attracting finance or generating licencing revenue for your business. Learn why patent protection is an asset that helps your business succeed. 

The first episode in a weekly pilot series of bite-sized podcasts designed to give inventors, startups, entrepreneurs, and micro-entities and other businesses the tools to protect their technology with intellectual property (IP). Tune in every Friday at 9.00 am (also on YouTube & LinkedIn) to supercharge your innovation journey!

More information at:

• New to patents
• Startup guide

The general information in these podcasts provides only a broad overview and is not comprehensive. It is not a substitute for legal advice specific to your own needs, nor should it be relied upon exclusively. You should consult a qualified professional (for example a European patent attorney) before taking any actions that could impact your business.

EQE 2025: Reformed and ready for the future

The EPO is transforming the way patent practitioners are trained and tested. With a redesigned format and new content, the modernised European Qualifying Examination gives candidates the chance to demonstrate their legal knowledge and skills to prepare them for the real-world challenges they’ll face. 

In this 4-episode podcast series, published from September onwards in our podcast channel Talk innovation: Patent professional edition, you will hear experts discuss the reasons for this reform as well as learn about its benefits for candidates. We’ll go into detail about what this reformed approach looks like and explore how next year’s new Paper F will help candidates with mastering the legal foundations they will rely on during their entire career. 

⁠Subscribe to “Talk innovation: patent professional edition”⁠

⁠Register now for the Paper F preparatory course ⁠

⁠EQE on epo.org⁠

⁠EQE guide for preparation⁠ 

Moderator: Rainer Osterwalder, Director, Communication, EPO

Guest: Professor Giuseppe Scellato, Politecnico di Turino

In terms of patents generated by publicly funded research such as the EU’s FP7 programme is often difficult to assess. In this podcast, Giuseppe Scellato from the Politecnico Turin presents a method that helps to show how the programme activities translated into patents, providing policy makers with  a valuable tool to assess how their funding of academic research spurs innovation among the surrounding businesses.

Device on. Headphones on. Press play. Game on! But… what goes into a video game?

What drives innovation in hardware, software and graphics? Could you become a video game developer and maybe even change the world for the better? Join a tech expert and patent examiner for a unique look at the technology behind your favourite titles.

You’ll never look at games the same again!

Speakers:

Patrick Mikulastik and Anne-Marie Imafidon

Music by: YipYep

Henrik Lindström and Giovanni Fili pioneered a new type of solar cell that can even harvest electricity indoors. Their invention enables self-charging devices and highlights the role of technology in combatting climate change. For their work, the Swedish innovators received the European Inventor Award in the Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) category in 2021. IP journalist James Nurton moderates this episode.

Read more about Henrik Lindström and Giovanni Fili 

Moderator: Jeremy Philpott, Communications Manager, EPO

Guests: Elsie Cielen, pharmaceuticals expert, and Fredrik Aslund, biotechnology expert; Examiners’ Team Managers at the EPO

Innovation in healthcare and life sciences is more important than ever before. The fields of medical technology, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology comprised over 16.7% of all patent filings to the EPO last year according to our recently published Patent Index 2020. But where has the boom in patent filings come from… and where will it take us in the future? Two experts share their insights into these fascinating technologies.

See epo.org/patentindex2020

Connecting patents and trademarks can help track the diffusion of patented inventions into the market, reveal the commercialization capabilities of patenting firms and capture market specializations related to specific technologies. In this podcast Carolina Castaldi, professor of Geography of Innovation at the University of Utrecht, will delve into the process to tell you more about how researchers, policymakers and innovators can make the most out of patent and trademark concordance tables. This episode is moderated by Catalina Martínez García, senior researcher in the Institute of Public Goods and Policies at the Spanish National Research Council. 

Carolina Castaldi received the European Patent Office's Academic Research Programme grant in 2019. 

More about the Academic Research Programme: https://www.epo.org/learning/materials/academic-research-programme.html

More about Carolina Castaldi's project: https://www.epo.org/learning/materials/academic-research-programme/research-project-grants.html

How can you best avoid a common blunder made by many inventors? Prematurely disclosing your invention to investors, customers or suppliers could be a costly mistake! Find out why keeping your invention a secret - using non-disclosure agreements if necessary – is key until you file your patent application to optimise your chances for success. 

An episode in a weekly pilot series of bite-sized podcasts designed to give inventors, startups, entrepreneurs, and micro-entities and other businesses the tools to protect their technology with intellectual property (IP). Tune in every Friday at 9.00 am (also on YouTube & LinkedIn) to supercharge your innovation journey!

More information at:

New to patents

Startup guide

The general information in these podcasts provides only a broad overview and is not comprehensive. It is not a substitute for legal advice specific to your own needs, nor should it be relied upon exclusively. You should consult a qualified professional (for example a European patent attorney) before taking any actions that could impact your business.

Moderator: James Nurton, IP journalist

Guests: Robert N. Grass and Wendelin Stark, European Inventor Award 2021 winners, Research

By encoding digital data on to DNA strands and encapsulating them within protective glass particles, the inventors developed an error-proof method to store data for millennia. But archival use is just the tip of the iceberg: their robust technique can be used as a fingerprint to label products and ensure that specific indicators - for example, origin or working conditions - are traceable throughout the supply chain.

Read more

Moderator: Anton Versluis, Team Manager Pattern Recognition, EPO

Guest: Steve Lindsey, CEO, Lontra

Guided by the principal of using engineering to change the world, Steve Lindsey invented a new type of compressor that cuts energy usage by some 30%. He applies the kind of thinking that revolutionised the consumer world to industry. The result? The UK’s first smart factory, where a network of connected machines reduce waste, improve sustainability, and increase productivity.

How do you handle the lengthy process of getting a patent? While it may seem like a drawback, the time it takes can actually benefit your business. Join us to learn why the patent process isn’t always quick, how it impacts your competitors, and how you can actively impact the scope of your technology’s protection. Find out how you can use the patent examiner’s search report to drive your own strategy. 

An episode in a weekly pilot series of bite-sized podcasts designed to give inventors, startups, entrepreneurs, and micro-entities and other businesses the tools to protect their technology with intellectual property (IP). Tune in every Friday at 9.00 am (also on YouTube & LinkedIn) to supercharge your innovation journey!

More information at:

New to patents

Startup guide

The general information in these podcasts provides only a broad overview and is not comprehensive. It is not a substitute for legal advice specific to your own needs, nor should it be relied upon exclusively. You should consult a qualified professional (for example a European patent attorney) before taking any actions that could impact your business. 

The speed, weight and power of the latest e-bikes can surprise many riders – they need better brakes. With electrical power on board, it is now possible to integrate anti-lock braking systems (ABS) specifically adapted to make this increasingly popular mode of green transport safer. Listen to Blubrake’s co-founder, Fabio Todeschini and technology transfer expert Professor Granieri explain how a smart patenting strategy turned engineers into entrepreneurs, leading to a successful spin-out from the Politecnico di Milano and their partner incubator e-Novia.

Moderator: Stephanie Weber, Communication Manager, European IP Helpdesk

Guests: Massimiliano Granieri, Professor of Law at the University of Brecia and Fabio Todeschini, General Manager of Blubrake

Read the case study

Moderator: James Nurton, IP journalist

Guest: Per Gisle Djupesland, European Inventor Award 2021 winner

While sitting on an aeroplane, the Norwegian ENT specialist began to think about airflow when he had a game-changing idea. It led to a device that significantly improves nasal drug delivery, a company with a growing global footprint, and a European Inventor Award in the Industry category.

Read more about Per Gisle Djupesland

Moderator: Jeremy Philpott, Communications Manager, EPO

Guests: Aidan Kendrick, Chief Business Analyst, EPO, and Yann Ménière, Chief Economist, EPO

The EPO’s new Patent Index 2020 reports on the latest trends in patent filings to the EPO. Which companies were filing more, or fewer, patent applications, where were they from, and who was top of the rankings? What were the big technology trends last year? Which sectors are booming and which are declining in the face of the pandemic and its attendant economic impact? For sure 2020 has produced greater diversity in patent filing behaviour than ever predicted. It is a complex, even confusing picture, so to make sense of it all Aidan and Yann review and interpret the statistics which reveal the course of global innovation.

See epo.org/patentindex2020

So, you’ve protected your IP and have found a company or investor who is interested in the next stage of the commercialisation journey.  Now you need to strike a deal. What are your essential considerations? How might the negotiations go? It can seem daunting but in this podcast  Christophe Haunold, a knowledge and technology transfer professional, University of Luxembourg PaKTT office head, and ASTP President, will provide useful advice.

Moderated by Alison Campbell, CEO of the United Kingdom Government Office for Tech Transfer.

This is the sixth episode in the series "Intellectual property (IP) as key commercial asset: the essentials".

How could you turn your ideas and creativity into profit? More specifically, how could you commercialise patents and other intellectual property (IP) to grow your business? This podcast series help inventors, researchers, entrepreneurs and anyone interested in the potential of IP take their first steps in the business world. IP experts from all over Europe will share their inspirational stories, know-how and strategies that can help you turn your idea into a business.

Moderator: Nigel Clarke, expert in patent information, EPO

Guest: Stéphane Lumineau, patent examiner, EPO

Robots have often been portrayed in science fiction as posing a threat to humans. Today, robots and robotic manipulators are indispensable to industry, and increasingly used in services and domestic settings too. Meet Stéphane Lumineau to learn more about roboethics, the role of artificial intelligence in robot development and the degree to which robots can adopt a human touch.

How do you find out where your business stands in relation to your competitors, your partners and the general state of technologies?  Patent knowledge can inform, inspire, guide and shape the direction of your business. It can be a source of information to find partners, customers or licences. Learn more about how free patent intelligence will help you to make better decisions. 

An episode in a weekly pilot series of bite-sized podcasts designed to give inventors, startups, entrepreneurs, and micro-entities and other businesses the tools to protect their technology with intellectual property (IP). Tune in every Friday at 9.00 am (also on YouTube & LinkedIn) to supercharge your innovation journey!

More information at:

New to patents

Startup guide

The general information in these podcasts provides only a broad overview and is not comprehensive. It is not a substitute for legal advice specific to your own needs, nor should it be relied upon exclusively. You should consult a qualified professional (for example a European patent attorney) before taking any actions that could impact your business.

Space technology is evolving at light speed and may even offer solutions to global challenges such as climate change. Join expert guests as they explore the significance of space propulsion for various applications, the rapid transformation of the space sector, the growing number of players in the field and the boom in spacecraft launches over the past decade. The episode provides fascinating insights into propulsion systems, including chemical and electric propulsion, and their applications in different phases of space missions. The panel also touches on innovative concepts like atmosphere-breathing propulsion and tethered propulsion, which may drive future space missions.

Moderator:

Johannes Schaaf, EPO Chief Economist Unit

Guests:

Lars Petzold, Research Fellow, European Space Policy Institute

Stephan Speidel, Technology Transfer Engineer, HE Space Operations

Geert Boedt, EPO Chief Economist Unit

Further resources:

Patent insight report on propulsion systems for space (May 2024)

Space innovation platform

Previous podcasts on space: 

“From Mars to Morocco: space innovations for Earth challenges”

"Houston, we have solutions"

"Earth observations for a greener planet" podcast

How credible are innovative business proposals? How likely are investors to fund start-ups and SMEs? Patents are fundamental to protect technologies, but they are also a useful signalling tool. In this podcast, Alberto Di Minin, Professor at the Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna in Pisa, tells us how patents can bridge the gap between investors and enterprises. According to a joint Scuola Sant’Anna and Centro Nazionale Ricerche study, business proposals coming from companies with a patent portfolio consistent with the type of activities that they seek financial support for are more likely to get funded.

This episode is moderated by Catalina Martínez García, senior researcher in the Institute of Public Goods and Policies at the Spanish National Research Council.

Download full research project report: https://www.epo.org/learning/materials/academic-research-programme/research-project-grants.html

Protecting your IP is a very important milestone, but it is only the starting point. So how do you begin the commercialisation journey? In this podcast you’ll learn about timing, identifying the market and customer’s needs, and finding support that can help you move your IP forward - all factors crucial for success.

In this podcast Marta Catarino, Head of Knowledge Transfer and Innovation at B.acis: Centre for Health Innovations at the School of Medicine at the University of Minho in Portugal helps you understand this landscape. Moderated by Alison Campbell, CEO of the United Kingdom Government Office for Tech Transfer.

This is the fifth episode in the series "Intellectual property (IP) as key commercial asset: the essentials".

How could you turn your ideas and creativity into profit? More specifically, how could you commercialise patents and other intellectual property (IP) to grow your business? This podcast series help inventors, researchers, entrepreneurs and anyone interested in the potential of IP take their first steps in the business world. IP experts from all over Europe will share their inspirational stories, know-how and strategies that can help you turn your idea into a business.

Moderator: Regula von Eggelkraut-Gottanka, Team Manager Proteins and Analysis, EPO

Guests: John Elvesjö and Mårten Skogö 

John Elvesjö and Mårten Skogö are an intellectual property success story. Their patented eye-tracking technology helped them found garage start-up and grow it to a stock-exchange listed company. Today, they are venture capitalists who are guiding a new generation of companies to success.

Many of the smart, connected, autonomous devices driving the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) are created by small, agile companies. They often face acute problems with access to finance and acquiring skilled staff, and their “deep tech” innovations can have long lead times to get to market. The economists at the European Investment Bank and the European Patent Office have teamed up for the first time to investigate the particular challenges faced by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in this sector. Debora Revoltella and Yann Ménière explain their findings, comparing Europe with the US. They also discuss solutions than could help the boom in digital technologies seen in e.g. manufacturing, AI, transport, healthcare and clean energy.

Moderator: Jeremy Philpott, Communications Manager, EPO

Guests: Debora Revoltella, EIB Chief Economist, and Yann Ménière, EPO Chief Economist

See epo.org/trends-deeptechSMEs

Getting the scope of your intellectual property right  at an early stage and aligning it with your business is crucial. But how do you go about it? In this podcast, our guest Antonio López will guide you through some of the critical points you should check before investing in any form of IP. We will discuss why analysing what others have worked out before you will help you learn about what you can protect, where to find this valuable information, and how you could use it to find alternatives and avoid unpleasant surprises later in the process.

Alison Campbell, CEO of the United Kingdom Government Office for Tech Transfer, talks with Antonio López, a senior patent expert with Telefonica. 

This is the second episode is a new series - "Intellectual property (IP) as key commercial asset: the essentials".

How could you turn your ideas and creativity into profit? More specifically, how could you commercialise patents and other intellectual property (IP) to grow your business? This podcast series help inventors, researchers, entrepreneurs and anyone interested in the potential of IP take their first steps in the business world. IP experts from all over Europe will share their inspirational stories, know-how and strategies that can help you turn your idea into a business.

How do you know if your great idea is truly new and worth pursuing?  You’ve heard about the power of patent information, but are you sure you know how to use it? Well, help is just around the corner to better access searches in patent databases, advice on filing patent applications, assessments of the economic potential of your technology and much more. Learn about PATLIB centres and how they can support you in executing your business strategy – all for free.  

An episode in a weekly pilot series of bite-sized podcasts designed to give inventors, startups, entrepreneurs, and micro-entities and other businesses the tools to protect their technology with intellectual property (IP). Tune in every Friday at 9.00 am (also on YouTube & LinkedIn) to supercharge your innovation journey! 

More information at:  

New to patents

Startup guide

The general information in these podcasts provides only a broad overview and is not comprehensive. It is not a substitute for legal advice specific to your own needs, nor should it be relied upon exclusively. You should consult a qualified professional (for example a European patent attorney) before taking any actions that could impact your business.

Moderator: Nigel Clarke, expert in patent information EPO

Guest: Rob Chapman, examiner EPO

The entire world population has rarely experienced a greater need for research into vaccines and antibodies than now. Meet Rob Chapman to learn about the latest advances in the quest to boost all our immune responses.

Renewable energy systems like wind power plants are heavily reliant on sensors for their smooth autonomous operation. Building on innovative research from the German Technical University of Munich (TUM), start-up company Fos4X successfully developed and commercialised fibre optical sensor technology that makes wind turbines safer and less vulnerable to severe weather conditions. TUM institute director Professor Alexander Koch, who is also a European patent attorney, encouraged four young entrepreneurs to found Fos4X. Together with Christian Hackl, a technology transfer expert at TUM-Tech, Prof. Koch will explain how patents laid the foundation for the fast-growing spin-out and its successful exit.

Read the case study

Moderator: Jeremy Philpott, communications manager, EPO

Guests: Ilja Rudyk, EPO senior economist and Thomas Bereuter, EPO innovation support manager 

Ilja Rudyk, EPO senior economist joins Thomas Bereuter, innovation support manager at the European Patent Academy, to discuss their latest scoreboard on patent commercialisation by universities and public research organisations (PROs). The scoreboard reveals the routes to market for inventions developed in universities and PROs – whether through patent licensing or sales, collaborations with industry (locally or cross-border) or by founding start-ups and spin-outs. The barriers to commercialisation differ widely across Europe. This scoreboard follows the one published in 2019 concerning SMEs.

Moderator: Rainer Osterwalder, Director, Communication, EPO

Guest: Alessandra Perri, Associate Professor, Ca’ Foscari University

While the accelerating ubiquity of digital technologies can be experienced almost universally, the automotive sector is particularly strongly affected by the 4th industrial revolution. Alessandra Perri presents a patent landscaping study that invites us to take a deeper look at this source of industrial turbulence, as she terms it, to better understand where the digital changes in cars come from, and who is driving them.

One of the most exciting developments in surgery being seen today is the application of augmented reality. This innovative imaging technology assists surgeons by mixing real vision of a patient’s body with digital information (e.g. vital signs or anatomical atlases) in real time, making procedures safer and more affordable. João Barreto, an entrepreneurial professor from the Portuguese University of Coimbra and the founder of Perceive 3D, took up the challenge to commercialise a promising technology in medical imaging, despite the small size of the local market. Together with José Ricardo Aguilar, Head of Legal/IP at Instituto Pedro Nunes, Prof. Barreto will explain how broad patent protection and a vibrant innovation eco-system paved the way for market success.

Read the case study

The current production delays caused by shortages of semiconductor chips prove just how much our cars have become computers on wheels. The automotive and ICT industries are converging. And patent applications to the EPO both for transport and digital technologies grew significantly last year, as revealed in our Patent Index for 2021. Two experienced examiners explain the evolving technologies, the new entrants and the changes in patent applicants’ filing behaviour.

Moderator: Jeremy Philpott, Communications Manager, EPO

Guests: Rupert Plenk, patent examiner, EPO, and Patrick Pascheka, patent examiner, EPO

See epo.org/patent-index2021

Moderator: Nigel Clarke, expert in patent information EPO

Guest: Jens Horstmannshoff, examiner EPO

From tape recorders to “streaming wars”, the pace of change in audiovisual technologies is accelerating. Meet Jens Horstmannshoff, whose work you’ve probably benefitted from unknowingly while watching your favourite TV series. Jens shares his views on 3D televisions, the new frontiers of streaming, and the role of technologies such as 5G in the next wave of digital transformation.

Curious where the latest technology trends are heading?  

The EPO's annual Patent Index offers a comprehensive look into these advancements, tracking  technological growth and patenting activity as well as top applicants and countries in the lead. 

Join EPO experts as they guide you through 2024’s key insights and explore some of the top fields like computer technology; electrical machinery, apparatus, energy; and transport.   They also discuss the uptake of the Unitary Patent and how often women inventors were named on patent applications.  

Narrator:  

Jeremy Philpott, EPO Communication Manager 

Guests: 

Gilles Requena, EPO Chief Patent Research and Policy Officer  

Wiebke Hinrichs, EPO Patent Examiner in Cycles, Frames, Chains & Safety 

Marc Nicolas, Business Analyst at the EPO 

Yann Ménière, EPO Chief Economist  

Further resources:  

Patent Index 2024 

Studies and reports  

Women’s participation in inventive activity (November 2022) 

EPO Observatory on Patents and Technology

The European Inventor Award honours innovators: those whose technical and scientific skill contribute to progress, economic growth and improving our lives. In this series, we catch up with Award alumni for their views on trends in innovation and intellectual property, while getting a rare glimpse at their cutting-edge new research or inventions.

Industries making above-average use of  intellectual property (IP) rights support four in ten jobs in the European Union, pay higher wages, comprise 47% of EU GDP and contribute ca 80% to EU exports. The significant contribution of these industries to the EU’s economy has been comprehensively analysed in the latest economic study produced jointly by the EPO and EUIPO. This fourth edition is new for 2022, and builds on the previous studies published in 2019, 2016 and 2013.

Moderator: Jeremy Philpott, Communications Manager, EPO

Guests: Nathan Wajsman, EUIPO Chief Economist, and Yann Ménière, EPO Chief Economist

See epo.org/ipr-intensive-industries

This podcast episode is a recording of the chat EPO patent examiner Edward Cooke had with Carmen Hijosa. At 60, Carmen began her PhD and established a new textile company that uses pineapple leaves to produce a vegan alternative to leather. Today, her business is thriving, the material is sought after by global fashion brands and the leaves, which are a by-product of pineapple harvesting in the Philippines, offer an additional income stream to farmers while using an otherwise discarded resource. 

Third episode in the series "Inspiring inventors" - giving you a unique opportunity to interact with the inventors, learn from their inspiring experiences, and take a closer look at what goes into successfully bringing an invention to market. 

Read more about Carmen Hijosa

Leading Tech Voices: health & well-being

EPO examiner Tom Kink leads a conversation with eminent inventors and scholars in the area of medical technologies, professors Gordon Chang and Chris Hancock. The talk highlights the significant increase in patent applications in medical technologies over the past decade emphasizing the role of interdisciplinary collaboration, advancements in material science as well as the role of robotics and AI in driving innovation. Persistence and the ability to iterate inventions quickly are crucial, as is consulting patents to be able to build upon earlier advancements in science.

Moderator:

Tom Kink, examiner specializing in the field of surgical tools and navigation at the EPO

Speakers:

Professor Gordon Cheng, Co-founder of Intouch-Robotics, Chair Professor for Cognitive Systems and Director of the Institute for Cognitive Systems at the Technical University of Munich.

Professor Chris Hancock, CTO and Founder of Creo Medical Group PLC and
Chair in Medical Microwave Engineering at Bangor University 

This episode is part of a special podcast series where each episode focuses on one of five major technology areas. It builds on the EPO’s 50 Leading Tech Voices project, in which global tech leaders were invited to share how they believe inventiveness can help create a brighter and more sustainable future.  You can read their statements and watch discussion panels on our website:

Further information:

Series playlist

Leading Tech Voices statements 2023

Leading Tech voices panel discussions 2023

Moderator: Jeremy Philpott, Communications Manager, EPO

Guest: Norbert Wienold, EPO patent examiner in digital technologies and classification expert

Digital technologies are on the rise – from 5G to AI to the “internet of things”. The fields of digital communications and computer technology comprised over 15% of all patent filings to the EPO last year according to our recently published Patent Index 2020. But which countries or companies are in the lead? And how are the trends changing as these technologies rapidly evolve and converge? Norbert and Jeremy explore and unravel the stories behind the numbers for the technologies driving the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

See epo.org/patentindex2020

3D printing, or additive manufacturing, is already disrupting prototyping and production in many fields. It brings flexibility to the manufacturing process and unprecedented design freedom, heralding a future with broader creative possibilities. 

A leading researcher in 3D printing technologies and Cubicure’s co-founder, Prof. Jürgen Stampfl and Karin Hofmann, one of TU Vienna`s leading patent and licensing managers, explain how a long-term technology transfer strategy with a smart allocation of IP usage rights established an international hub for state-of-the art-research in additive manufacturing as well as the creation of several successful spin-outs, such as Cubicure.

Read the case study

Moderator: Marjorie Chopinaud, Team Manager, EPO

Guest: Laura van 't Veer, Co-founder and Chief Research Officer, Agendia

Inventor, researcher, professor and businesswoman: Laura van 't Veer wears many hats. She invented a gene-based breast cancer test that helps doctors decide whether a patient needs to undergo chemotherapy. Since winning the European Inventor Award in 2015, Laura’s invention was part of a large clinical trial which showed that many patients can overcome cancer without the devastating effects of chemotherapy.

Two scientists-turned-entrepreneurs have created the technology platform S-TIR for immunology vaccines, enabling treatments for allergies and cancer. Based on their strong patent portfolio they founded several start-up companies for product development and technology commercialisation. In this podcast they explain how IP was essential for attracting investment as well as generating licensing revenue early on. This was crucial given the long time-to-market periods that are typical in biotechnology.

The EPO has recently published three new case studies highlighting the role of IP in creating businesses that are bringing technologies to market to diagnose and/or treat cancer.

Download the case studies: https://www.epo.org/learning/materials/sme/innovation-case-studies/technology-transfer-case-studies.html

The new Patent Index 2021 reports on the latest trends in patent filings to the EPO. Digital technologies have boomed, and healthcare remained strong. But nearly half of all technology sectors have still not yet recovered to pre-pandemic levels. Filings from China have risen by 24% in 2021, and have quadrupled over the last decade. The Patent Index 2021 also reveals the rankings for the leading applicants and countries. It is a complex, evolving picture, so to help make sense of it all Aidan and Yann review and interpret the statistics which reveal the course of global innovation.

Moderator: Jeremy Philpott, Communications Manager, EPO

Guests: Aidan Kendrick, Chief Business Analyst, EPO, and Yann Ménière, Chief Economist, EPO

See epo.org/patent-index2021

Moderator: James Nurton, IP journalist

Guest: António Campinos, EPO President

What impact has the COVID-19 pandemic had on the EPO? How has productivity been affected? Will video conferences fix the backlog of cases? Is the Strategic Plan 2023 still relevant? What does the New Normal mean? And when will we see AI patent examination? EPO President António Campinos answers to these and more questions in this podcast.