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...

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...

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...

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,...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

Female inventors have shaped the world in more ways than we might realise.     Join three women working in patents and STEM as they celebrate inspiring female inventors and discuss their experiences in their fields. Hear their advice for anyone interested in a technical career and discover why diversity is the key to unlocking powerful innovation.     Guests:   Joana Piriquito Santos, Attorney-at-law  Maryse Stoufs, EPO internal auditor    Moderator:  Cristina Lopes Margarido, EPO...

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,...

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...

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...

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:...

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...

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

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!

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! Interested to hear more?...

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