50 years European Patent Convention
2023 marks a momentous milestone, as the European Patent Office (EPO) celebrates 50 years since the signing of the European Patent Convention – the cornerstone of a unified European patent system that fosters shared progress and prosperity.
Our yearlong programme of celebrations culminates in a major hybrid event on Thursday 5 October, 50 years to the day since the signing of the European Patent Convention. Programme highlights include sessions dedicated to inspirational inventors, expert roundtables on how inclusive innovation is contributing to a more sustainable world and an award ceremony for the winners of the Kids’ collaborate art competition.
The event will be streamed live on epo.org and social media. On-site participation is by invitation only at our premises in Munich and The Hague.
To register to attend the livestream, please click the button below.
Event details
Programme
| Moderator: on-site: Fernando Tiberini | ||
| 09.30 – 09.45 hrs | Welcome and official opening | |
| 09.45 – 10.30 hrs |
Opening speeches António Campinos, President of the European Patent Office |
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| 10.30 – 11.00 hrs |
Kids´ Collaborative Art Competition Award ceremony |
|
| 11.00 - 11.30 hrs |
Coffee break |
|
| 11.30 – 12.30 hrs |
Inventors and EPO Staff Collaborate Towards a Sustainable World |
|
| 12.30 – 12.45 hrs |
Closing of the morning |
|
| 12.45 – 14.30 hrs |
Lunch break |
|
| 14.30 – 15.55 hrs |
Parallel roundtable discussions |
|
| 14.30 – 15.10 hrs |
Technologies for a sustainable future Moderator: Manuel Walther, Patent Examiner in Medical Injection & Infusion Simon Bennett, Energy Technology Analyst, International Energy Agency Christoph Gürtler, Head of Catalysis Program, Covestro / RWTH Aachen University and European Inventor Award finalist 2021 Jennifer Rupp, Professor of Chemistry and Solid-state Electrolytes, Technical University Munich Catia Bastioli, Chief Executive Officer, Novamont, and European Inventor Award finalist 2007 |
We have lift-off: How space technologies change life on Earth Moderator: Julian Mihé, Patent Examiner in Gas Turbines Xavier Barcons, Director, European Southern Observatory Ilaria Cinelli, Space Healthcare Expert and Institutional Business Developer Laurent Lestarquit, GNSS Signal Expert, Centre National D’Etudes Spatiales and European Inventor Award winner 2017 Anna Gregorio, Associate Professor, University of Trieste, Department of Physics |
| 15.10 – 15.55 hrs |
Innovation for everyone’s well-being Moderator: Helena Domingues, Patent Examiner in Immunology Claudiu Hidas, Chief Executive Officer, munevo AG Jens Zehetner, Franchise Director, Merck, Sharp & Dome Jérôme Galon, Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale and European Inventor Award Winner 2019 Madiha Derouazi, Member of the Board of Directors, LiTao Biotech SA and European Inventor Award Winner 2022 |
Talking digital Moderator: Georgia Tseliou, Patent Examiner in Wireless and Data Networks Hamano Koichi, Commissioner, Japan Patent Office Claudia Tapia, President, 4iP Council and Director IPR Policy and Legal Economic Research, Ericsson Sophie Wilson, Broadcom and European Inventor Award finalist 2013 Bastian Best, European Patent Attorney and AI Expert Carles Puente, Fractus Founder, Professor IPR Management, UPC and European Inventor Award Finalist 2014 |
| 15.55 – 16.00 hrs |
Closing |
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| * Please note that the time zone for the programme is CEST. | ||
Registration
We regret to inform you that all available spots for the in-person event have been filled. However, you can still secure your virtual attendance by registering through this link.
See also
50 Leading Tech Voices
Discover the insights of experts working at the forefront of five major innovation areas and read their statements on how innovation is leading to a safer, smarter and more sustainable world.