EPO User Day 2026

Event moderator: Eimer Luck
Key Account Manager, European Patent Office

Eimer joined the EPO in 1992 and has extensive experience supporting users of EPO digital tools and services, notably the EPO Mailbox. She later trained the formalities community on patent grant procedures and in July 2022 became a Key Account Manager.

Anu Honkalinna
Head of spin-off Asset Management, Aalto University 

Anu is Head of Spinoff Asset Management at Aalto University and Head of Startups at the Ellis Institute in a shared role. With a background in law and international business, she brings extensive experience as a startup founder, advisor, and mentor, helping science-based startups turn research into impactful businesses.

Åsa Ribbe 
Principal Director Search & Patent Grant Process Products, European Patent Office

Åsa joined the EPO in 1997 as a patent examiner in Telecommunications. She has held examiner, team manager, director, and principal director roles across the patent grant process. Since January 2025 she has led Search and Patent Grant Process Products within BIT. She holds an MSc in Engineering Physics.

Benjamin Grau  
Partner, Fleuchaus & Gallo, Munich  

Benjamin is a German and European Patent Attorney. He has been representing clients before the European Patent Office since 2015, following a scientific career in biology including a PhD and a Marie Curie postdoctoral fellowship. He is a member of the epi Online Communications Committee and an epi delegate in EPO working groups. 

Camille-Rémy Bogliolo 
Head of Unitary Patent Division, European Patent Office

Camille has led the Unitary Patent Division since the launch of the Unitary Patent in 2023. Previously, he has worked extensively in Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) legal matters, first at WIPO between 2001 and 2005, and then at the EPO since 2006. Camille holds a degree from Sciences Po and a Master of Laws from the University of Maastricht.

Céline Peyrat  
IP Administrative Manager, Saint-Gobain Sekurit France 

Céline supports the management of the intellectual property portfolio, including patents, designs, inventor declaration and remuneration. She also coordinates with external patent attorneys and oversees annuity-related activities. Working closely with inventors, patent engineers, attorneys, and business teams, she helps ensure the efficient management and protection of innovation across the organisation. 

Christina ten Hövel 
Key Account Manager and Patent Administration Expert, European Patent Office

Since joining the EPO in 2003, Christina has worked as an expert in patent grant procedures and has provided training to internal and external audiences. As a Key Account Manager, since 2015 she has supported EPO users with online tools and services. She has also contributed to various projects, notably the technical implementation of the Unitary Patent.

Cristina Caffarra 
Co-founder and Chair, EuroStack Initiative Foundation 

Cristina had a 25-year career as a renowned economic expert in antitrust matters, leading teams of economists and testifying in major antitrust cases across the globe, with a strong focus on digital. She now runs a non-profit organisation pursuing European resilience and asset-building in tech and digital. 

David Kaiser
Policy Officer to the Vice President for Entrepreneurship Dr. Philipp Baaske Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München

David steers LMU Munich's Transfer & Entrepreneurship unit for the Vice President for Entrepreneurship, turning it into a one-stop shop that accelerates IP transfer into spin-offs. He leads a project scaling this approach across Germany and builds new founder programmes. Previously impact founder and VC investment analyst.

Diane Lançon  
IP Director, Haventure 

Diane is the IP Director at a French startup studio focused on digital and robotic surgical technologies. She leads the intellectual property strategy across multiple high-growth companies, helping transform breakthrough technologies into valuable patent portfolios that support financing, partnerships and long-term growth. She holds a PhD in physics from the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne.  

Diego Eguidazu Alonso
Chief Information Officer (CIO), European Patent Office

Diego has served as CIO of the EPO since May 2019. He has been a key contributor to the digital transformation of the Office, combining his expertise in technology and leadership to steer information management in an ever-evolving digital landscape. He chairs the SACEPO Working Party on ePatent Process, the dedicated user forum accompanying the EPO's efforts in digital transformation.

Dirk Geivaerts
Director Online User Engagement, European Patent Office

Dirk joined the EPO in 2000 as examiner working in Civil Engineering. Throughout his career he has been closely involved with developing and maintaining various key software applications of the EPO. In 2019 he joined BIT and is currently responsible for the Directorate Online User Engagement.

Elke von Brevern 
Expert Patent Filing Process and PCT Affairs, European Patent Office

Elke joined the EPO in 2008 as a formalities officer and later became online filing application manager, working on development and maintenance of PCT-related online filing tools. Since 2015, she has been an expert in the PCT Affairs department, where she coordinates and legally supports the implementation of PCT-related projects at the EPO.

Felicita Banzhaf
Founder of BANZHAF IP 

Felicita is a German and European Patent Attorney with a background in mechanical engineering. She advises clients on European patent matters, focusing on examination, opposition and appeal proceedings before the European Patent Office. She is a member of the epi Online Communications Committee. 

Francisco Javier Rubio Sierra
Team Manager in Operations, European Patent Office

Javier leads a multidisciplinary team of 28 examiners in imaging technologies. He has also contributed to procedural development within the EPO and worked as a qualified European Patent Attorney before joining the EPO.

Fred Meyer 
Director Operations, European Patent Office 

Fred joined the EPO in 1997 after starting his career at Siemens basic research labs. He worked as patent examiner in the field of electrochemical and optical sensors until 2014, and later held operational director roles in radar and GPS, telecommunications, semiconductors. He is now responsible for electronics and electromechanics. 

Frédéric Mougel
Scientific Director - CNRS Innovation

Frédéric began his technology valorisation and transfer career as Technical Business Manager at the CEA. Joining CNRS Innovation in 2001, he progressed through business development, materials science leadership, and technology transfer roles. Since 2018, as Scientific Director of the OTT, he has strengthened links between academic research and industrial applications.

Gareth Lord 
Director Operations, European Patent Office

As a director of operations, Gareth manages a department of 300 patent professionals and is responsible for the end-to-end patent grant process in the fields of measurements and optics. He started at the EPO as a patent examiner and, in a 35-year career, has also worked in quality management, international and legal affairs, and managing IT projects.

Gemma Autet Isalt
Key Account Manager, European Patent Office

Gemma joined the EPO in 2000. For the past eight years she has worked as a formalities officer in Search and Examination, developing expertise in patent procedures while coaching colleagues. She obtained the EPAC certification in 2025 and joined the Key Account Management team in January 2026.

George Lazaridis 
Economic and Business Analyst, European Patent Office 

George has worked in the Chief Business Analyst Unit since September 2025 and leads the EPO Data Desk project. Before that he spent several years in the Controlling Office, contributing to a number of IP-related studies and strategic EPO projects. 

Georgios Flouris 
Team Manager for Patent Information Tools, European Patent Office.

Georgios leads the team responsible for developing and operating patent information tools that support the EPO’s mission. He focuses on data accessibility, quality and reuse, and has extensive experience delivering digital solutions that enable efficient access to patent data for internal and external users.

Gerry Van Dooren 
Director Quality Management, European Patent Office

Gerry began his career at ESTEC and joined the EPO in 1997, working in antennas and microwaves until 2011. He later held director roles in Audio Video Media, connectors and switches, and Health technologies. He is now responsible for Directorate Quality Management.

Jola Sternal 
Key Account Manager, European Patent Office

Jola joined the EPO in 2007 after starting in the telecoms industry. She spent ten years in the Talent Academy as a training coordinator for examiner academies, then worked as a formalities officer, deepening her patent grant process expertise. Since January 2026 she has been a Key Account Manager.

Jon H. Hoem  
CEO and co-founder of Resurgent Heart AG and Cardiac Impact GmbH 

Jon is a medical device innovation leader with more than 35 years of international experience bringing advanced class IIb/III medical devices in cardiology and cardiac surgery. An inventor and co‑inventor of 14 patents, he has raised over EUR 40 million in venture capital and built IP estates around breakthrough technologies, using patent strategies to help micro‑entities and SMEs protect innovation, attract funding and scale internationally.  

Karine Berthier 
Director Patenting Tactics, Nokia 

Karine works at a global leader in the telecoms industry that is active in Standard Essential Patent licensing activities. A European Patent Attorney, French-qualified attorney and UPC representative, she has extensive industry experience leading patent teams, patent operations and new patenting strategies. 

Kieran Donnelly 
Business Partner, European Patent Office

Kieran is a business partner at the EPO, driving digital transformation through MyEPO services for applicants, opponents and representatives. Since 2014, he has drawn on extensive business and IT consulting experience to modernise workflows and strengthen online user engagement.

Marianna Prokopi-Demetriades  
Co-founder of Theramir, Promed Bioscience and RSL Revolutionary Labs  

Marianna is a biotech entrepreneur, oncology researcher and Associate Clinical Professor of Oncology Research. She is the co-founder of three Cyprus-based biotechnology companies developing innovations in personalised oncology, extracellular vesicle miRNA therapeutics, advanced biomaterials and medical-grade supportive care. She has led the translation of research and intellectual property into GMP manufacturing, internationally exported products and patient-focused innovation.  

Markus Klose  
VP Intellectual Property and Grant Financing, Skeleton Technologies  

Marcus joined Skeleton Technologies in 2018 after working on novel carbon additives for energy storage for Heraeus of Germany. Initially responsible for developing curved graphene, Skeleton's proprietary raw material for energy storage, he has since led several development functions, including superbatteries and supercapacitors, and is currently responsible for all IP matters and third-party projects.  

Martin Adu 
Key Account Manager, European Patent Office

Martin is a Key Account Manager supporting EPO users with online tools and services. He has previously worked as brand manager, software application manager and a customer support expert. Martin is an experienced trainer who has worked in e-services at the EPO since the early days of online filing software in 2000.

Patrick Bodart 
Principal Advisor to the Chief Operating Officer, European Patent Office

Patrick is Principal Advisor to the COO at the EPO. Since joining as an examiner in 1989 he has held senior management roles across operations and advised on classification, automation, AI, business change, risk management and strategic transformation, including BEST and AI-assisted drafting of oral proceedings minutes.

Peter Albrecht 
Principal Advisor User Engagement and SMEs, European Patent Office

Peter joined the EPO in April 2018 and is currently Principal Advisor User Engagement and SMEs, leading outreach for micro-entities, SMEs, universities and public research organisations. He previously held executive positions in the food and medical technology industries. Peter holds an MSc and an MBA in Technology Management.

Richard Schiettekatte
Customer Services Expert, European Patent Office

Richard joined the EPO in 2003 as an events manager in the Online Services area. He co-ordinates and supports the implementation of activities in both the Key Account Management and Customer Services units.

Robert Rankin 
Administrator in Directorate Quality Management, European Patent Office

Robert is an administrator in Directorate Quality Management. He began his career at the EPO as an examiner, working in the areas of galenics, vaccines and immunology. In his current position, he has undertaken may tasks including quality metrics and analysis, international cooperation, user outreach and communication on quality matters both internally and externally.

Roberta Andreatta 
Key Account Manager, European Patent Office

Roberta joined the EPO in 2001 and has been a Key Account Manager since 2017, primarily covering Italy, Germany and France. In this role she monitors and promotes technical progress in the EPO's online services and supports users in their implementation.

Sinéad Ryder
Manager, Principal Patent Paralegal, Dolby International AB

Sinéad works extensively in the management of European and PCT patent portfolios and the protection of intellectual property. She leads a team of paralegals, collaborating closely with attorneys, outside counsel and international teams to support patent prosecution across multiple jurisdictions. She holds the CIPA Patent Administration qualification.

Sonia Pérez Díez 
Principal Director Online User Engagement and IT Cooperation, European Patent Office

Sonia joined the EPO in 2020 as Director of IT Planning, contributing to SP2023 governance and execution. In 2024 she became Director of Online User Engagement, driving MyEPO services under SP2028. Since 2026 she has been Principal Director Online User Engagement and IT Co-operation.

Stefan Luginbuehl
Head of Department, IP Lab - Patent Law Policy, European Patent Office

Stefan works on patent law and litigation matters at European and international level, including fee policy, convergence of practice and the Unitary Patent system. He has contributed to European patent reform, lectures at universities, and authors and edits publications on the European Patent Convention, the Unitary Patent scheme and patent protection in China.

Tobias Irmscher 
Head of Department, Patent Filing Process and PCT Affairs, European Patent Office

Tobias joined the EPO’s legal services in 2006 and has worked on patent law matters for almost fifteen years. Since 2023 he has headed the team responsible for PCT issues and filings matters, dealing with legal questions concerning EPO filing and notification tools.

Vera Burianek 
IP Lab Lawyer, European Patent Office

Vera works on patent law and litigation-related matters, focusing on the EPO’s new fee policy and the Convergence of Practice programme. She studied law and technology in Munich and Berkeley, previously worked as an attorney-at-law in patent litigation and licensing, and regularly contributes to patent law publications.

Victor Arribas Martinez
Stream Leader Diversity and Transformation, European Patent Office

Victor works at the EPO Observatory, the European Patent Office’s hub for patent data, technology trends and engagement with the innovation ecosystem. An economist by training, he leads projects on startups, universities and diversity in science and innovation, helping turn patent data into practical insights and tools supporting innovators, policymakers and researchers.