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 Mo...
Feb 13, 2024•18 min•Season 4Ep. 8
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 Rudy...
Feb 08, 2024•36 min•Season 4Ep. 7
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...
Jan 18, 2024•55 min•Season 4Ep. 6
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!
Dec 05, 2023•23 min•Season 4Ep. 5
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? Here's ...
Nov 16, 2023•19 min•Season 4Ep. 4
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...
Oct 31, 2023•34 min•Season 4Ep. 3
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...
Oct 24, 2023•24 min•Season 4Ep. 2
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, EP...
Sep 26, 2023•24 min•Season 4Ep. 1
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 t...
Jun 14, 2023•55 min•Season 3Ep. 15
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 Con...
May 26, 2023•28 min•Season 3Ep. 14
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 biotechnolog...
May 11, 2023•21 min•Season 3Ep. 13
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, ...
Apr 13, 2023•24 min•Season 3Ep. 12
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 innov...
Apr 11, 2023•22 min•Season 3Ep. 11
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 Hrozen...
Feb 15, 2023•32 min•Season 3Ep. 10
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...
Jan 17, 2023•27 min•Season 3Ep. 9
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...
Jan 10, 2023•28 min•Season 3Ep. 8
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, I...
Dec 13, 2022•20 min•Season 3Ep. 7
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 ...
Nov 15, 2022•17 min•Season 3Ep. 6
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....
Nov 02, 2022•52 min•Season 3Ep. 5
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 Philpo...
Oct 18, 2022•18 min•Season 3Ep. 4
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 con...
Oct 04, 2022•16 min•Season 3Ep. 3
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 Insti...
Sep 20, 2022•17 min•Season 3Ep. 2
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. Thi...
Sep 06, 2022•16 min•Season 3Ep. 1
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 Gov...
Jul 19, 2022•23 min•Season 2Ep. 26
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 he...
Jul 05, 2022•28 min•Season 2Ep. 25
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 a...
Jun 23, 2022•25 min•Season 2Ep. 24
Before seeking IP protection, it is critical to understand the landscape and potential scope of your rights. New entrepreneurs often ask, “Where do I start?”. In this podcast we will discuss incredibly useful free resource: the PATLIB network. PATLIBS can help innovators at the early stages of their IP journey by offering guidance, practical help and a wealth of useful connections. Alison Campbell, CEO of the United Kingdom Government Office for Tech Transfer, talks with Riccardo Priore, a paten...
Jun 07, 2022•20 min•Season 2Ep. 23
This podcast episode is a recording of the chat EPO patent examiner Edward Cooke had with the British brothers Pete and Ben Kibel, who together invented a fishing hook cover, called Hookpod. The Hookpod helps save the lives of hundreds of thousands of seabirds, by reducing seabird bycatch in the open-sea longline fishing industry. Second episode in the series "Inspiring inventors" - giving you a unique opportunity to interact with the inventors, learn from their inspiring experiences, and take a...
May 31, 2022•1 hr•Season 2Ep. 22
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 ...
May 24, 2022•27 min•Season 2Ep. 21
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) i...
May 03, 2022•26 min•Season 2Ep. 20
