Innovate, code, transform: Participate in the 4th edition of CodeFest and redefine patent valuation

The European Patent Office (EPO) has launched the fourth edition of its CodeFest competition, with a 16 November deadline for proposals. The new challenge: to create code-driven solutions for assessing the value of patents.

Patent valuation is becoming increasingly crucial to business success across technology fields. Participants are therefore invited to develop automated systems that leverage innovative EPO tools such as the Technology Intelligence Platform to assess the economic value of patents. The challenge is to use data analytics to transform complex patent data into actionable insights that support smarter investment decisions and improve the management of intellectual property (IP) portfolios.

By advancing IP valuation methods, the EPO aims to support startups and inventors in securing funding and scaling sustainably within Europe’s innovation ecosystem. Using patent data to make IP evaluation easier enables innovators to bring new ideas to market and make smarter business decisions, supporting growth, competitiveness and investment. These objectives are high on the EPO's agenda and are also reflected in the EU Startup and Scaleup Strategy published on 28 May 2025.

Ready to join the challenge?

This challenge will be of particular interest to patent professionals, IT and AI specialists, economists, legal and IP experts, data enthusiasts, developers, coders, data scientists and professionals from international organisations, academia and research institutions. To ensure high -quality and relevant CodeFest submissions, participants are encouraged to form multidisciplinary teams. Integrating technical skills with domain expertise can lead to more comprehensive and impactful solutions. Only residents of EPO member states aged 18 and above can participate.

In line with the EPO's efforts to promote diversity and inclusion across the innovation landscape, women with an enthusiasm for technology and innovation are highly encouraged to take part, showcase their skills and help inspire the next generation.

CodeFest 2026 is open to individuals and teams of up to five members. Teams made up of EPO staff, external entrants or a mixture of both are all welcome!

How to participate

To take part, submit your proposal by 16 November 2025, 23.59 hrs CET. For further details, please refer to the official CodeFest page below.

Your proposal should include:

• The completed form with your personal information. Please note that all team members must register individually and indicate if they are part of a team.
• An outline of your proposal for solving the coding challenge. Proposals must include an explanation of your suggested approach and indicate the data selection you intend to use, possible model implementation and model evaluation. You are encouraged to include how your proposed application can benefit users.

To support participants in leveraging patent information to enhance IP valuation, during the second round of the competition the EPO will provide participants with free access to the world’s largest collection of patent data as well as EPO patent knowledge products and services, including the cutting-edge Technology Intelligence Platform.

Submit your proposal today or share this opportunity with someone who may be interested in the challenge!

Ready to win? These are the prizes

Grand prize winner: EUR 20 000
First runner-up: EUR 10 000
Second runner-up: EUR 5 000

Don’t miss out on this chance to use your coding skills to create an automated patent valuation system that supports smarter investment and IP management. To register, visit the CodeFest 2026 page.