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 

Plastic waste is a pressing global issue, polluting not just our environment but also even our bodies. Thankfully, the latest advancements in plastic waste recovery and recycling are paving the way towards a more sustainable future.

Join Marguerite McCaughan as she explores the complexities behind these processes and speaks with experts about cutting-edge solutions and the role EU policies play in promoting recycling.

In this episode Paloma Aldeguer, Chief of Staff at Recycleye, shares insights into how artificial intelligence and machine learning are revolutionising plastic sorting and recycling. Joana Xavier, Director of Transformation and Sustainability at Valorsul, also discusses the technologies currently employed at Portugal's largest municipal waste processing plant. Pauline Vandoolaeghe, a patent examiner in polymer chemistry, joins the conversation to explain the chemical processes involved in plastic recycling, which include pyrolysis, chemolysis and enzymatic depolymerisation. Together, they provide an insightful look into the future of sustainable plastics.

Narrator: Marguerite McCaughan, Communications manager, EPO

Guests:

Paloma Aldeguer, Chief of Staff, Recycleye

Joana Xavier, Director of Transformation and Sustainability, Valorsul

Pauline Vandoolaeghe, Patent examiner, EPO

Further information:

EPO technology platform on plastic waste management and alternative plastics

Full report "Plastics in transition - technologies for plastics waste management"

Deep Tech Finder

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