Events for startups and SMEs
As part of the initiative Reach out to high-tech startups, the European Patent Office collaborates with the national patent offices in EPO member states to engage with startups and SMEs at leading innovation fairs and events across Europe. This offers valuable opportunities to connect, learn and discover how intellectual property can accelerate business growth.
At presentations and workshops, the EPO Observatory and its partners share practical insights, tools and resources on key topics such as innovation financing, startup success and technology transfer, helping founders unlock the full potential of their ideas. The events also raise the awareness of SMEs, startups, investors and the innovation ecosystem of the free tools and services provided by national patent offices and the EPO: like the Deep Tech Finder and fee reductions for smaller applicants.
Reach out to high-tech startups: member states and events
External events 2026
January | ||
| Madrid, Spain | Science for Industry (S4i) | Spanish Patent and Trademark Office (OEPM) |
April | ||
| Vienna, Austria | AustrianStartups Summit | Austrian Patent Office |
May | ||
| Berlin, Germany | GITEX Europe | German Patent and Trade Mark Office (DPMA) |
| Maribor, Slovenia | PODIM | Slovenian Intellectual Property Office |
| Riga, Latvia | Deep Tech Atelier | Latvian Patent Office |
| Tallinn, Estonia | Latitude59 | Estonian Patent Office |
June | ||
| Paris, France | VivaTech | French Patent and Trademark Office (INPI) |
September | ||
| Bolzano, Italy | Bolzano Slush’D | Italian Patent and Trademark Office (UIBM) |
| Esch-Belval / Foetz, Luxembourg | DeepTech Ventures Summit | Luxembourg Intellectual Property Office (IPIL) |
| Košice, Slovakia | SlovakiaTech Expo | Industrial Property Office of the Slovak Republic |
October | ||
| Munich, Germany | Bits & Pretzels | German Patent and Trade Mark Office (DPMA) |
| Vilnius, Lithuania | Startup Fair | State Patent Bureau of the Republic of Lithuania |
November | ||
| Helsinki, Finland | Slush | Finnish Patent and Registration Office (PHR) |
| Istanbul, Türkiye | Big Bang Startup Challenge | Turkish Patent and Trademark Office (TÜRKPATENT) |
What participants say about past events
- Viva Technology
“The EPO workshop at VivaTech sparked an important dialogue around IP, not just as protection, but as a catalyst for creativity, ownership and long-term brand equity.”
Oana Leonte, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of unmatchd.
- Bits & Pretzels
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“The joint workshop of the EPO and the German Patent and Trade Mark Office offered a very good and worthwhile exchange, and I’m positive there will be more opportunities to build on this in the future.”
Jan Niclas Wester, CEO of SCINTOMICS GmbH
- Science for Industry
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“Having the EPO and the Spanish Patent and Trademark Office at Science for Industry brought intellectual property closer to researchers, startups and spin-offs, boosting real impact.”
Carlos García Alcázar, Head of Operations at Science for Industry
- PODIM
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“You cannot run a deep-tech company with just management strategy. You have to think about how IP will be collected and think about your IP strategy. And IP is huge… the whole asset palette of the things you can have in the company. And deep-tech startups are leading this game when it comes to innovation in comparison to classical ones.”
Nina Dremelj, Vesna VC & Business Angels Slovenia
