EPO

The European Patent Office (EPO) announced the winners of the European Inventor Award earlier today. Viewers worldwide joined the event via livestream and celebrated as inventors and teams from Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Estonia, France, Hungary, Spain, Switzerland, the UK and the US received trophies, all of whom were chosen by an independent jury comprising of leading experts in their fields. This was also the first time our young inventors were celebrated, with the inaugural Young Inventors prize.

The EPO has named 13 outstanding inventors or teams as finalists of the 2022 European Inventor Award. The prize celebrates their genius and creativity, and recognises their contributions to a brighter and more prosperous world. With eight women named finalists and multiple inventions in green technologies, the 2022 Award also reflects progress and positive societal change. The winners will be announced at a virtual ceremony on 21 June.

“The main benefits of a Unitary Patent will be lower maintenance costs and simpler administration. After the transitional period, translation costs will also be less.”

The countdown to the launch of the EU Unitary Patent has begun, with the new system expected to start before the end of this year.

On January, 26 EPO published the European Patent Academy's 2022 training catalogue, which covers a varied and comprehensive portfolio of training activities, educational products and learning projects in the areas of patent granting, technology transfer and dissemination, and litigation.