2. Technical progress, advantageous effect 

The EPC does not provide either explicitly or implicitly that, to be patentable, an invention must entail some technical progress or even any useful effect. Nevertheless, if there is any advantageous effect over the state of the art, it should be stated in the description (Rule 42(1)(c)), as such an effect is often important in determining "inventive step" (see G‑VII, 5).