Tackling the Future lecture series: Cross-field inventions in the medical field

In a rapidly advancing healthcare landscape, innovation increasingly stems from the convergence of multiple technological fields. Cross-field inventions in the medical sector frequently combine developments in biotechnology, digital health, materials science, and data analytics - creating unique challenges for intellectual property protection.

This lecture is designed for patent professionals seeking to explore the complexities of patenting interdisciplinary medical innovations. From bioengineered implants and AI-powered diagnostics to wearable health technologies and personalised medicine, the opportunities for IP protection are many, but require careful planning and execution.

The session will address key legal and technical considerations when assessing, drafting, and prosecuting patent applications in the medical field, including the legal challenges when filing AI-powered diagnostic applications and the EPO’s practice on this topic in view of the recent case law such as G1/19.  It will also consider how to assemble an appropriate team of attorneys to optimally interact with the inventors with a view to achieving commercially appropriate protection, while navigating such patentability challenges, as well as prior art considerations, infringement detection, and more. Real-life case studies will be used to illustrate these challenges, along with expert guidance on how to navigate them.

This session will take place on 13/06/2025 and is part of the broader “Tackling the Future” series. Building on the success of last year’s events, the 2025 edition explores selected high-impact technological areas including additive manufacturing, medical technology, and - new for this year - quantum computing.