Talk innovation: unlocking technology
European Patent Office
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“Talk innovation: unlocking technology” is brought to you by the European Patent Office (EPO). Expert presenters and guests – including our patent examiners - provide their perspective on technology trends and highlight ground-breaking inventions. Join us to learn more on the role of patents and the intellectual property (IP) system in supporting society and the economy.
Opinions expressed by podcast participants are their own and may not reflect the views of the EPO.
Available episodes
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Nov 16, 2023
Houston, we have solutions!
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 a link to an earlier episode on technologies used in space: "Earth observation for a greener planet"
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Oct 31, 2023
Video games: more than just play
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
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Oct 24, 2023
How patents and trade marks help fund startups
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
Access our study
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Sep 26, 2023
Disrupting production - how additive manufacturing is changing our world
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
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Jun 14, 2023
Robotics exoskeletons for kids: more than a medical device
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
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May 26, 2023
“You are a wonder”: How stem cell donations save lives
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
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May 11, 2023
A proprietary platform to fight cancer: a technology transfer case study
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
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Apr 13, 2023
New energy landscapes
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
See epo.org/patent-index2022
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Apr 11, 2023
The revolution in smart health
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
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Feb 15, 2023
Earth observation for a greener planet
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.
See the Patent Insights report on “Space-borne sensing and green applications”
Patent documents quoted by Johannes for illustrative purposes: EP3469516B1 EP3655743B1 EP2193449B1
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Jan 17, 2023
Patenting trends in hydrogen innovation
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
See epo.org/trends-hydrogen
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Jan 10, 2023
Women in tech: the road to gender equality
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
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Dec 13, 2022
Creating an innovation culture around results
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
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Nov 15, 2022
Differentiating collaboration, convergence and cohesion (Research into patents)
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
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Nov 2, 2022
Inspiring inventors: Carmen Hijosa
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
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Oct 18, 2022
How intellectual property (IP) rights create jobs and prosperity in the EU
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
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Oct 4, 2022
Understanding the business value of SMEs' patent portfolio (Research into patents)
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
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Sep 20, 2022
Patents as loan collateral (Research into patents)
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
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Sep 6, 2022
Towards a concordance map: from patents to trade marks (Research into patents)
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-pr…
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Jul 19, 2022
Approaching the deal (IP as key commercial asset)
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…
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Jul 5, 2022
Approaching the market (IP as key commercial asset)
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 interest…
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Jun 23, 2022
Protecting IP assets: types and scope (IP as key commercial asset)
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, e…
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Jun 7, 2022
Free advice to get you started (IP as key commercial asset)
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 patent analyst and IP consultant at the PATLIB of the Area Science Park in Trieste, Italy.
This is the third 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…
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May 31, 2022
Inspiring inventors: Pete and Ben Kibel
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 closer look at what goes into successfully bringing an invention to market.
Read more about Pete and Ben Kibel
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May 24, 2022
The art of defining the scope of your idea (IP as key commercial asset)
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 pod…
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May 3, 2022
Deep tech innovation in the EU and US
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
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Apr 26, 2022
Building on intellectual property to create a business: a real case
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…
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Apr 19, 2022
Vaccine technologies
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
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Apr 12, 2022
Smart urban mobility
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
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Apr 5, 2022
Patents, pandemic and the rise of China - key trends in filings
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
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Mar 29, 2022
PATLIB centres and patent attorneys: allies or competitors?
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 EP…
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Mar 9, 2022
Inspiring inventors: Marco Donolato
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
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Mar 1, 2022
Boosting wind energy operation - a spin-out story
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
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Feb 22, 2022
Bringing augmented reality into the operation room: a technology transfer case study
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
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Feb 8, 2022
Guidelines for Examination - the attorneys' view (European Patent Bar)
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, se…
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Jan 25, 2022
3D printing high-performance polymers: a technology transfer case study
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
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Jan 11, 2022
Cycling safely into the future: a technology transfer case study
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
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Nov 16, 2021
The key to longer, healthier lives? (European Inventor Award)
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
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Nov 2, 2021
Rock CO2, roll back climate change
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.
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Oct 26, 2021
Patents for tomorrow’s plastics
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.
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Oct 19, 2021
The determination to heal wounds: a technology transfer case study
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.
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Sep 30, 2021
Inventing a way out of climate change (European Inventor Award)
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
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Sep 21, 2021
The light behind billions of smartphones (European Inventor Award)
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
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Sep 14, 2021
Oral proceedings by videoconference (European Patent Bar)
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!
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Sep 7, 2021
Nominate a genius (European Inventor Award)
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.
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Jul 27, 2021
Improving quality of life: a technology transfer case study
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
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Jul 20, 2021
Textiles for the extreme: a technology transfer case study
Moderator: Stephanie Weber, Communication Manager, European IP Helpdesk
Guests: Andreas Martsman, co-founder and VP Marketing & Sales at Oxeon, Caroline Pamp, IP professional, Legal advisor of Oxeon
Following research at the Chalmers University of Technology (Sweden), the start-up company Oxeon was founded in 2003 to commercialise an innovative textile production process. The resulting materials have exceptional performance in e.g. sporting, industrial and aerospace applications – even featuring in the robotic helicopter “Ingenuity” recently deployed on Mars. Andreas and Caroline are interviewed by Stephanie about the extraordinary journey for this award-winning company and its materials, requiring a special blend of business planning, IP strategy and creativity.
This podcast is one of a series based upon technology transfer case studies published by the EPO in the summer of 2021.
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Jul 13, 2021
European Inventor Award: A billion smiles thanks to nanotechnology
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.
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Jul 6, 2021
European Inventor Award 2021: the future of DNA-based data storage
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
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Jun 23, 2021
European Inventor Award 2021: winds of change
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
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Jun 8, 2021
Patents in Progress: Our robotic helpers
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.
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Jun 1, 2021
Patents in Progress: Patents on display
Moderator: Susana Sánchez Barrio, European Patent Academy
Guest: Nigel Clarke, expert in patent information, EPO (retired)
Emerging technologies are constantly reshaping our daily technospace and taking it to the next level. From the old bulky TV sets to the modern flatscreen displays, Nigel Clarke has witnessed many of these level upgrades firsthand! Join him to learn more about technological trends, how the information disclosed in patents can help you steer your invention onto the right track and why working at the EPO can be such a rewarding journey.
Dive into patents: epo.org/searching
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May 25, 2021
Inventors Revisited: Space autonomy for Europe
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.
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May 18, 2021
Patents in Progress: How optics enlighten our lives
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!
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May 12, 2021
The European Inventor Award: a peek behind the scenes
Moderator: James Nurton, IP journalist
Guests: Helen Lee, CEO Diagnostics for the real world, European Inventor Award 2021 jury chair; Wolfgang Heckl, Director General Deutsches Museum
The European Inventor Award celebrates creativity and honours those who are developing solutions to pressing global issues. In this episode, we speak to two jury members who provide unique insight into the selection process and discuss their unenviable task: choosing winners in a field of ingenious inventions.
Inventoraward.org
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Apr 27, 2021
Trends in low-carbon energy innovation
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 speciali…
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Apr 20, 2021
E-driving towards a greener future
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!
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Apr 13, 2021
Inventors Revisited: Guidance from above
Moderator: Abderrahim Moumen, director in examination, EPO
Guest: José Ángel Ávila Rodríguez, GNSS Evolutions Signal and Security Principal Engineer, European Space Agency
The novel coronavirus pandemic has presented several problems, not least of which is tracking the spread of a virus that cannot be seen by the naked eye. José Ángel Ávila Rodríguez, co-inventor of the radio signals in the Galileo satellite navigation system, provides insight into pandemic tracking and discusses the future of the world’s most accurate satellite network.
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Apr 6, 2021
Inventors Revisited: Visionary inventors and entrepreneurs
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.
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Mar 30, 2021
Patent Index 2020: Trends in patent filings for digital technologies
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
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Mar 23, 2021
Patent Index 2020: Trends in healthcare filings
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
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Mar 16, 2021
Patent Index 2020
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
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Mar 9, 2021
Patents in Progress: More than just metalwork - the latest advances in welding
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.
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Mar 2, 2021
Research into Patents: Following trajectories of green technology patents
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.
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Mar 2, 2021
Research into Patents: Building bridges with IP Linked Open Data
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.
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Feb 23, 2021
Oral proceedings by videoconference
Moderator: Gwilym Roberts, Partner at Kilburn & Strode LLP, London
Guests: Cyra Nargolwalla, Partner at Passeraud IP, Paris and Dr Joachim Renken, Partner at Hoffmann Eitle, Munich
In a lively debate three experienced patent attorneys critically assess “Opposition by VICO” at the EPO.
Oral proceedings cannot be postponed indefinitely, despite the pandemic’s restrictions on travel and meetings. Since last summer the EPO has been transitioning to videoconferencing (VICO) for opposition hearings, adapting its technical platforms and legal frameworks to keep the wheels of justice turning. But what do patent attorneys think about the EPO’s VICOs services? What has gone well, and what do they suggest for improvements?
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Feb 16, 2021
Research into Patents: Automotive patents reveal 4IR impact
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.
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Feb 16, 2021
Research into Patents: FP7 - more patents than meet the eye
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.
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Feb 16, 2021
Research into Patents: Drilling deeper on the standard-essentiality of SEPs
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.
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Feb 9, 2021
Inventors Revisited: Conquering cancer with gene-based testing (part 2)
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.
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Feb 4, 2021
Inventors Revisited: Conquering cancer with gene-based testing (part 1)
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.
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Jan 26, 2021
Patents in Progress: Audiovisual technologies - Tuning into the future
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.
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Jan 19, 2021
Patents and the Fourth Industrial Revolution: The global technology trends enabling the data-driven economy
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 c…
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Jan 12, 2021
Inventors Revisited: Blood, the book of life
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.
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Dec 22, 2020
Valorisation of scientific results – patent commercialisation scoreboard: European universities and PROs
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.
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Dec 17, 2020
António Campinos reflects on 2020
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.
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Dec 8, 2020
Patents in progress: Thinking outside the box - Packaging technologies
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.
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Dec 1, 2020
Inventors Revisited: Re-awakening the city that fell asleep
Moderator: Fernando Tiberini
Guest: Thomas Tuschl, Professor of Biochemistry, Rockefeller University
New York is the city that never sleeps but the coronavirus pandemic forced the it into hibernation. Resident and world-leading biochemist Thomas Tuschl has taken up the fight, exploring potential new treatments. The European Inventor Award finalist is also pushing boundaries that may lead to solutions for autoimmune diseases.
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Nov 24, 2020
Patents in progress: Biopharma - The patent system meets traditional medicine
Moderator: Nigel Clarke, expert in patent information EPO
Guest: Cécile Fayos, examiner EPO
As personalised medicine takes off, Cécile Fayos talks about the role of ethics and the stories behind a selection of pharmaceutical blockbusters. Join Cécile to learn more about how the modern patent system dovetails with traditional medicine used for centuries.
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Nov 17, 2020
Inventors Revisited: Inside the mind of an inventor
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.
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Nov 10, 2020
Patents in progress: Radiation diagnostics - Bare bones and beyond
Moderator: Nigel Clarke, expert in patent information EPO
Guest: Pau Montes, examiner EPO
Radiation diagnostics has come a long way after its accidental discovery in the late nineteenth century. Now routinely used in modern medicine, it once got a little help from the Beatles, whose record sales contributed to financing a major breakthrough in CT scanning. Meet Pau Montes to learn more about the fascinating evolution of the field and its working principles.
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Nov 5, 2020
Trends in sustainable energy technologies: The global battery technology race
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.
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Oct 27, 2020
Inventors Revisited: A minute change that makes a massive difference
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.
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Oct 20, 2020
Patents in progress: Biotechnology - the quest to boost our immune systems
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.
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Oct 13, 2020
Inventors Revisited: From HIV to Covid-19 – the device that could change the world
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.
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Oct 6, 2020
Patents in progress: Semiconductors - Materials for the digital age
Moderator: Nigel Clarke, expert in patent information EPO
Guest: Xavier Dauw, examiner EPO
Nanotechnology is invisible to the eye but has an enormous impact on semiconductors and a whole range of other fields, from organic chemistry to molecular biology. Meet Xavier Dauw, a passionate expert on the materials used in the electronics that will drive our future, especially when it comes to artificial intelligence.
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Sep 29, 2020
Inventors Revisited: Towards smart factories
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.
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Sep 22, 2020
Patents in progress: Smart domestic appliances - Making life easier and greener
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.
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Sep 15, 2020
Patents in progress series: trailer
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.
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Sep 9, 2020
Inventors Revisited: Organoids: the future of life science research?
Moderator: Fernando Tiberini
Guest: Hans Clevers, Professor of Molecular Genetics, UMC Utrecht and Utrecht University
The concept of growing mini human organs in a lab would once have seemed far-fetched. But Hans Clevers changed all that. Today, the organoids he invented are used to conduct safe and humane research in fields ranging from cancer treatments to anti-venom production, and from personalised medicine and the coronavirus.
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Sep 9, 2020
Inventors Revisited: Saving lives through invention – the story of the HPV vaccine
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.
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Sep 9, 2020
Inventors Revisited: The great vaccine race
Moderator: Fernando Tiberini
Guest: Rino Rappuoli, Chief Scientist and Head External R&D, GSK Vaccines
As the novel coronavirus shatters our way of living, the world lives in hope that a vaccine will arrive. But what does it take to produce a vaccine that is safe and has few side effects, and do it quickly? Rino Rappuoli, Lifetime achievement winner at the European Inventor Award 2017, shares his views on coronavirus treatments and provides a glimpse at how vaccinology has changed over time.
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Sep 2, 2020
Inventors Revisited series: trailer
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.
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