EPO sponsors One Young World Summit in Munich

EPO workshop : "Meet the Ideas, People and Patents Shaping Tomorrow’s Technology”

Through its support for the One Young World Summit (OYWS), the European Patent Office (EPO) engaged with young leaders from around the world to highlight the importance of patents in shaping a more innovative and sustainable future.

The European Patent Office is supporting the City of Munich as host city for the One Young World Summit 2025, taking place in Munich from 3 to 6 November at the Messe München.

As part of its sponsorship, the EPO hosted a workshop on November 4 featuring speakers from the Patent Granting Process, the EPO Observatory on Patents and Technology, and Peter Hedley, winner of the Young Inventors Prize 2022.

The session – "Meet the ideas, people and patents shaping tomorrow’s technology” – invited dialogue with young leaders on the role of patents and innovation. Using real-life examples, EPO experts explained how examiners work, while Peter Hedley inspired participants with his personal journey from bold idea to real-world impact. He also presented his company, Recycleye, and answered questions from participants. One delegate commented: “This was one of the most interesting workshops of the conference, I learned so much”.

Additionally, the workshop gave attendees the chance to explore the EPO’s Deep Tech Finder, a tool showcasing breakthrough European startups and science-driven solutions across fields from climate tech to health and AI.

This initiative reflects the goals of the EPO Strategic Plan 2028 Driver 4 Partnerships, which seeks to enhance the accessibility of the patent system and ensure that innovation continues to deliver benefits for society. The EPO Observatory’s Biennial Work Plan 2026–27 also highlights “Innovation and Youth” as a key theme and includes a dedicated project for 2027. Through its tools, resources and data, the Observatory acts as the EPO’s hub for sharing knowledge on innovation and technology with a wide audience.

What is the One Young World Summit?

The annual One Young World Summit brings together young leaders from around the world to accelerate social impact. Delegates from more than 190 countries are mentored by influential political, business and humanitarian leaders. The Summit’s main goal is to address economic, social and environmental challenges in line with the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Over four days, delegates take part in speeches, panel discussions, networking sessions and workshops. After the event, participants return to their communities and organisations as One Young World Ambassadors, equipped with the connections, insights and motivation to drive change. They join a global network of more than 17 000 young leaders, collaborating to strengthen existing initiatives or establish new ventures. According to the Summit website, Ambassador-led projects have reached more than 41 million people since 2010.