Talk innovation: patent professional edition

In recent years the worlds of public research and startups have become more linked than ever, attracting a high share of investment and playing a vital role in European competitiveness. 

But this wasn't always the case. In this episode, cancer immunologist and entrepreneur Dr Jérôme Galon sheds light on how researchers have found increasing acceptance and support as they branch into business.  

To illustrate this, the 2019 European Inventor Award winner shares his journey as an INSERM researcher and successful biotech founder, discussing the pivotal role of technology transfer offices, what it takes to turn groundbreaking discoveries into real-world impact and the evolving role of today's scientists. The conversation is accompanied by insights from the EPO Observatory's recent study on “The role of European public research in patenting and innovation.”   

Host: Victor Arribas Martinez, Stream leader, EPO Observatory on Patents and Technology  

Guests: Dr. Jérôme Galon, Cancer immunologist and research director, French National Institute of Health and Medical Research (INSERM)  

More information:  

• EPO study: “The role of European public research in patenting and innovation” 

• Profile of Dr. Jérôme Galon on the EPO website  

How is artificial intelligence changing the way patent professionals search, draft and work with patents? Our expert guests, including patent attorneys, patent searchers and the EPO's Chief Technology Officer, take you on a journey through real-world use cases, ethical consideration and personal experiences with AI in patent practice. 

From the practical to the forward-looking, this episode explores how AI is already shaping the profession - and what might come next. 

Narrated by Marguerite McCaughan, EPO 

Guests:  

• Sébastien Ragot, patent attorney, E. Blum & Co. Ltd.
• Vipul Mendiratta, project team lead, Caterpillar  
• Tim Powell, patent attorney, chair of the epi Working Group on the use of AI 
• Angel Aledo Lopez, CTO at the EPO 

Further information: 

EPO’s AI Policy 

epi Guidelines: Use of Generative AI in the Work of Patent Attorneys 

EPO’s Legal Interactive Platform launched 

Standards are the invisible protocols that ensure our devices and services work together seamlessly. But how do they relate to patents? And what does this mean for innovation and competition?  

 Uncover how the interplay between standards and patents shapes technological progress. This discussion dives into how the Unified Patent Court and the Patent Mediation and Arbitration Centre aim to streamline patent litigation and enhance legal coherence across Europe.  

 Finally, we introduce the European Patent Office's new dataset: the Patent Standards Explorer. By linking patent applications to standards documents, it offers a valuable resource for better understanding the innovation journey.  

More information:  

Standards and the European patent system, May 2025: full study 

Patent Standards Explorer dataset 

"Patents, standards and innovation: securing Europe’s competitive edge" event recording 

 Narrator: Victor Arribas Martinez, Stream Leader, EPO Observatory on Patents and Technology 

 Guest: Pere Arque Castells, Stream Leader, EPO Observatory on Patents and Technology 

 Featuring insights from speakers at the EPO Observatory’s "Patents, standards and innovation: securing Europe’s competitive edge" event: 

• Gabriele Mohsler, Vice President Patent Creation Management, Ericsson 

• Kirti Gupta, Vice President and Chief Economist of Global Technology, Cornerstone Research 

• Bowman Heiden, Director of the Center for Intellectual Property (CIP), University of Gothenburg 

• Justus Baron, Director of BRELA and Research Director, Northwestern University Center on Law, Business and Economics 

• Aleš Zalar, Director, Patent Mediation and Arbitration Centre, Unified Patent Court 

• Rian Kalden, Presiding judge of the 2nd panel of the Court of Appeal, Unified Patent Court 

• Alexander Haertel, Cluster Lead Patents, Deutsche Telekom 

• Sophie Pasquier, Principal Licensing Counsel, Philips  

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

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: 

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:

When embarking on your EQE journey, there are quite a few items on your to-do list. From figuring out where to register and the code of conduct to how to use the examination tools, navigating these formal requirements with confidence will help put you on the path towards acing the exam. In the first part of this episode, we’ll speak to an expert to make sure you know everything you need to about these requirements. 

In the second half you’ll hear from a recent candidate and

Moderator

Andrew Hards, European Patent Attorney and EQE tutor)

 Speakers

Elena Schuman, Head of Department for EQE and Certifications, European Patent Office

Mozhdeh Seifi, Patent Examiner, European Patent Office

Further resources:

Music credits:

Paper F will be sat for the first time during the spring 2025 European Qualifying Examination (EQE). In this episode, you’ll learn strategies and tips to help you understand and prepare for Paper F from a highly experienced patent attorney and candidate trainer. We'll also dive into the topic of declarative knowledge and shed light on the training courses and resources available to help you thrive. 

Moderator:  

Andrew Hards, European Patent Attorney and EQE tutor 

Guest:  

Oana Boncea, European Patent Attorney and member of the epi Professional Education Committee  

 Further resources:  

Music credits:  

The European Qualifying Examination is adopting an

In this episode, an expert breaks down the new structure

Moderator:

Andrew Hards, European Patent Attorney and EQE tutor

Speaker:

Alejandro Flores Jiménez, Management Coordinator in Patent Intelligence, European Patent Office

Further information:

Music credits:

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. 

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

More information:

Quality at the EPO

Are you curious about the sweeping changes coming to the European Qualifying Examination (EQE)? In the first episode of our series on the modernised EQE, experts explain the changes made to the exam and how these improvements will transform the way candidates are trained and tested. Join us as we explore the highlights of EQE reform, delve into its goals and benefits and share what future EQE candidates can expect as they embark on their path to becoming qualified patent professionals! 

Moderator: Andrew Hards, European Patent Attorney and EQE tutor 

Guests:

Xavier Seuba, Principal Director Patent Intelligence, European Patent Office  

Tiem Reijns, member of the  EQE  working group and Vice-President of  the Institute of Professional Representatives before the EPO 

Further information: 

All EQE 2025 podcasts (playlist)

Learning resources for EQE and EPAC candidates 

Online "Preparing for EQE Paper F” course 

EQE Guide for Preparation 

Learn more about the EQE

Music credits: 

Opening background music: 
AudioCoffee, https://freesound.org/people/AudioCoffee/sounds/736804/

Ambient Crescendo 001B by nlux, https://freesound.org/s/620790/; License: Attribution 4.0