Talk innovation: unlocking technology

Plastic waste is a pressing global issue, polluting not just our environment but also even our bodies. Thankfully, the latest advancements in plastic waste recovery and recycling are paving the way towards a more sustainable future. 

Join Marguerite McCaughan as she explores the complexities behind these processes and speaks with experts about cutting-edge solutions and the role EU policies play in promoting recycling.  

 In this episode Paloma Aldeguer, Chief of Staff at Recycleye, shares insights into how artificial intelligence and machine learning are revolutionising plastic sorting and recycling. Joana Xavier, Director of Transformation and Sustainability at Valorsul, also discusses the technologies currently employed at Portugal's largest municipal waste processing plant. Pauline Vandoolaeghe, a patent examiner in polymer chemistry, joins the conversation to explain the chemical processes involved in plastic recycling, which include pyrolysis, chemolysis and enzymatic depolymerisation. Together, they provide an insightful look into the future of sustainable plastics.  

Narrator: Marguerite McCaughan, Communications manager, EPO 

Guests: 

Paloma Aldeguer, Chief of Staff, Recycleye 

Joana Xavier, Director of Transformation and Sustainability, Valorsul 

Pauline Vandoolaeghe, Patent examiner, EPO 

Further information:

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:  

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: 

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:

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:

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. 

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:

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. 

This episode delves into the principal challenges facing innovation in Europe, as outlined in Mario Draghi’s prominent report “The future of European competitiveness.”  Listen to gain insight into: 

• the role patent data plays in understanding innovation trends 
• which technical fields Europe is lagging behind in compared to its competitors 
• how the EPO’s high-quality patents and other activities contribute to the innovation process 
• the critical factors that may impact Europe changing course.   

These important topics were tackled in a conversation between Gilles Requena, Chief Patent Research & Policies Officer at the EPO, and Alexandr Hobza, Chief Economist, Directorate-General for Research & Innovation at the European Commission, with moderation by Joff Wild, Head of Content at Sisvel and former Editor in Chief of IAM magazine.    

Additional links: 

How can you ensure you don’t run out of money while pursuing a patent? It could take several years, but key costs and deadlines are foreseeable. Join us to learn how to budget for your patent journey so that both your product development and investment rounds align with key patenting milestones - keeping nasty surprises at bay. 

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:  

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. 

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.  

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. 

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. 

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. 

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.

Why are space technologies essential to address global challenges and contribute to sustainable development goals? Join Maria-Gabriella Sarah (European Space Agency) and Rainer Horn (Novaspace) to discover how satellite-based communications and navigation improve our daily lives, and how innovations initially designed for astronauts, like portable laboratories, have been repurposed to serve remote communities during health crises such as the Ebola and COVID-19 pandemics. You’ll learn how Earth observation satellites with AI contribute to monitoring agriculture and forests. This episode also explores Europe’s leadership in space tech and the crucial role startups play in driving progress.

Moderator: Ralf Cuiper, Patent examiner and team manager - aerospace, European Patent Office

Speakers: Maria-Gabriella Sarah, Director General Services Strategy and Development, European Space Agency (ESA) Rainer Horn, Partner and Managing Director, Novaspace Leading Tech Voices: space technologies This episode is part of a series focussing 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.

How can the innovators of today help nurture the great minds of tomorrow?

In this episode, two members of the European Inventor Network share their experiences working with school children to help spark their interest in innovation and entrepreneurship. Hear their insights on the importance of inspiring the next generation of inventors, the impact that school outreach has and what can be done to break down barriers between young inventors and legacy thinkers.

Highlighting the Network’s mission to empower the next generation to unleash their creativity and discover the wonders of science and technology, this conversation between two accomplished inventors offers an exciting look at how curiosity and enthusiasm can change the world.

Moderator: Marjorie Chopinaud, EPO team manager and coordinator of the European Inventor Network

Speakers:

Richard Palmer, European Inventor Award finalist and freelance entrepreneur

José Ángel Ávila Rodríguez, European Inventor Award finalist and Head of Future Programmes Office at the European Space Agency

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. 

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 

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.  

When dealing with disability, is gene therapy an ethical solution? Can technology encourage a more equitable world? Does society truly listen to people with a disability?

In this special edition, we’ll meet several authors seeking answers to these complex questions. We’ll hear their creations before learning about the inspiration behind each tale. "Who am I?" by Brian Routledge, "L’ Expo" by Christophe Poizat and "Mosaïque" by Paule Gilis were the winning entries in EPO’s writing competition on the theme disability and innovation. The contest was open to all staff and formed part of our celebrations for the 50th anniversary of the European Patent Convention. Brian’s story also won the 2023 essay competition organised by the Brain journal and is published there (link below).   

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.  

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.

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.  

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. 

Join us on an interstellar adventure to explore the out-of-this-world technology that makes space exploration possible. You probably even use space technology here on Earth without even realising it! Inventor and YouTuber Simone Giertz and former patent examiner Rainer Kaysan will guide you through these fascinating inventions, careers in space and the key role aerospace innovation plays for a greener planet. Buckle up and get ready to blast off in 5, 4, 3, 2, 1!

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

How are European startups using patents and trade marks to raise finance? The high failure rates of promising startups are often linked to their cashflow problems, so this a topic of critical importance for Europe’s economy. The authors of a recent study discuss their findings with regard to patents, trade marks and startup finance.

Guests:           Yann Ménière, Chief Economist, European Patent Office

Nathan Wajsman, Chief Economist, EU Intellectual Property Office

Moderator:  Jeremy Philpott, manager in Communications, European Patent Office

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)

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.

The latest Patent Index shows that clean energy technologies are driving a surge in patent applications. New filings in the field of electrical machinery, apparatus and energy grew by 18.2% in 2022, and battery technologies (which is a sub-field herein) grew by 48%. Our experts discuss the leading countries in this exciting field and give insights into what is driving the innovations in clean energies, including hydrogen, batteries, wind, solar and geothermal energy.

Moderator: Jeremy Philpott, Communications Manager, EPO

Guests: Yann Ménière, Chief Economist, EPO, and Victor Veefkind, patent examiner, EPO

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 

Sensor tech supports sustainability by delivering crucial climate data. We explore the satellite-based sensors that forecast weather, detect pollution, protect biodiversity and monitor the environment. Experts from the European Patent Office, the European Space Policy Institute and the European Space Agency dive into their recent joint study, which shows a meteoric rise of patent applications in space-borne sensing. Could innovation in space be key for a greener planet?

Moderated by Tomas Hrozensky from the European Space Policy Institute with the participation of Johannes Schaaf from the European Patent Office and  Stephan Speidel from HE Space Operations working closely with the European Space Agency.

Innovation in hydrogen is booming, not just in production, but also in storage and applications. Current hydrogen production relies heavily on fossil fuels, but it doesn’t have to be this way. Electricity from renewable sources (wind, solar etc.), using new electrolyser technologies, herald a new era for this clean energy source. But which countries and sectors are in the lead, and what are the challenges to the hydrogen revolution?

Moderator: Jeremy Philpott, Communications Manager, EPO

Guests: Simon Bennett, Technology Analyst at IEA, and Yann Ménière, EPO Chief Economist

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.

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. 

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