Talk innovation - the EPO podcast

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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-project-grants.html

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 over Europe will share their inspirational stories, know-how and strategies that can help you turn your idea into a business.

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 interested in the potential of IP take their first steps in the business world. IP experts from all over Europe will share their inspirational stories, know-how and strategies that can help you turn your idea into a business.

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, entrepreneurs and anyone interested in the potential of IP take their first steps in the business world. IP experts from all over Europe will share their inspirational stories, know-how and strategies that can help you turn your idea into a business.

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 first steps in the business world. IP experts from all over Europe will share their inspirational stories, know-how and strategies that can help you turn your idea into a business.

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

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 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 over Europe will share their inspirational stories, know-how and strategies that can help you turn your idea into a business.

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

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 inventors, researchers, entrepreneurs and anyone interested in the potential of IP take their first steps in the business world. IP experts from all over Europe will share their inspirational stories, know-how and strategies that can help you turn your idea into a business. Find out in our new series!

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

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