Standards, Patents and Competitiveness Forum
Information
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The future of standards, patents and innovation is being shaped by global dialogue, transparency, collaboration and practical solutions. This forum is jointly organised by the European Patent Office (EPO) and the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI). On-site capacity is limited; the livestream is open to everyone who registers below.
Event details
On-site + Online
Bob-van-Benthem-Platz 1
80469 Munich
Germany
Programme
| 09.00 hrs | Welcome and registration for onsite participants Badge collection and welcome coffee |
| 09.30 hrs | Opening remarks António Campinos, President, European Patent Office |
| 10.00 hrs | Global challenges and opportunities in standardisation This panel explores scenarios for the future evolution of technology and standards, in light of current global challenges and opportunities. Moderator: Axel Ferrazzini, Managing Director, 4iP Council Jan Ellsberger, Director-General, ETSI |
| 10.45 hrs | Industry feedback and perspective Business success requires informed insights into technology trends, combined with a rigorous understanding of standards and their implementation, as well as the right patent strategy. This panel provides a platform for industry perspectives from across the innovation ecosystem. Moderator: Axel Ferrazzini, Managing Director, 4iP Council Steve Faraji, Head of Litigation, Licenses, Brand Protection, Volkswagen AG |
| 11.30 hrs | Standards and competitiveness: shaping Europe’s industrial future The evolving role of standards will shape Europe's technological future. This panel focuses on the interface between policy and competitiveness. Moderator: Bowman Heiden, Co-Director of the Center for Intellectual Property (CIP), University of Gothenburg Martin Chatel, Chief Policy Officer, ETSI |
| 12.15 hrs | Lunch break |
| 13.30 hrs | Standards and patents (Part I): towards a level playing field - transparency and FRAND across jurisdictions A level playing field is key to strengthening European competitiveness. This panel focuses on the importance of promoting transparency and accessibility, particularly where standard essential patents (SEPs) are concerned, along with fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory (FRAND) licensing terms. Moderator: Michael Fröhlich, Director of Patent Developments and IP lab, European Patent Office |
| 14.30 hrs | Standards and patents (Part II): beyond litigation - ADR and the future of SEP dispute resolution This panel offers a deep dive into the latest alternative dispute resolution (ADR) trends relating to SEP disputes, and the opportunities that expert insights into this area can deliver for stakeholders. The panel also looks at the positive impact on the ADR landscape of the inauguration in June 2026 of the Patent Mediation and Arbitration Centre (PMAC) of the Unified Patent Court (UPC). Moderator: Juliane Kotzur, Lawyer, EPO´s Observatory on Patents and Technology |
| 15.30 hrs | Coffee break |
| 16.00 hrs | Rapporteurs' summary |
| 16.30 hrs | Closing debate and way forward Open exchange on follow-up actions |
| 17.00 hrs | End of the hybrid event Networking reception for onsite participants |
Intervenants
More information will follow.
Informations complémentaires
The Standards, Patents and Competitiveness Forum will be hosted at the headquarters of the European Patent Office (EPO) in Munich, in collaboration with the European Telecommunication Standards Institute (ETSI). With the support of leading standards development organisations (SDOs), the event brings together representatives of SDOs and industry, standards contributors, policymakers and patent professionals to discuss the evolving role of standards in shaping Europe’s technological future, with a focus on global trends in standardisation and patenting, standard essential patents (SEPs), transparency and dispute resolution.
Technology standards foster innovation, accelerate the journey from lab to market, and provide the building blocks for secure and interoperable systems. They ensure that devices, networks and services can work together seamlessly, from smartphones and satellites to connected cars, video streaming and a range of data-driven and digital solutions, including those that support artificial intelligence and emerging technologies such as quantum computing.
Patents complement standards by protecting inventions, to ensure that those investing time, effort and money to develop new technologies can enjoy a fair reward. And because patent applications are published in free public databases, they foster future innovation and standards by promoting knowledge transfer too. At the same time, the exclusive rights that reward the developers of new technologies must be balanced by fair access to these technologies. The widespread adoption of standards such as 5G, and the remarkable growth of the industries that rely on them, show that the patent and standardisation systems have provided effective solutions.
Preserving the balance between technology developers and implementers is crucial for competitiveness and legal certainty today, and will remain so tomorrow. This means aligning incentives to develop the best technical solutions with their broad dissemination through fair multi-party licensing deals (i.e. FRAND). Where disputes do arise in this area, appropriate procedures are crucial, including those available at the Patent Mediation and Arbitration Centre (PMAC) of the Unified Patent Court (UPC).
The programme is designed to provide both a snapshot of the current norms and a glimpse into the future, as the global technology landscape continues to rapidly evolve.