The “Out of the Box” mini-series begins with a look at the fascinating world of inventions in the energy sector. From compact switchgear systems hidden inside wind turbines to solar panels floating on water, this episode explores how unexpected inventions are redefining the way energy is generated. A light-hearted conversation between EPO patent examiners reveals how space-saving, sustainable tech is powering up our future – one invention at a time.

Moderator:

Cristina Lopes Margarido, patent examiner in culinary equipment & food treating devices

Guest:

Miguel Angel Ruiz Ferrer, patent examiner in electrical components & devices

In this episode of Talk Innovation, host Ed Cooke sits down with Valentyn Frechka, the co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of Releaf Paper, in a conversation recorded during a live online event. Valentyn shares his remarkable journey of turning a school project into a business that transforms fallen leaves into raw material for the paper and packaging industry. Along the way, Valentyn offers insights into the challenges of turning an invention into a successful business, adapting to existing industry processes, the role of intellectual property in business strategy and the importance of picking the right team.

Moderator: Ed Cooke, EPO patent examiner

Guest: Valentyn Frechka, co-founder and Chief Technology Officer of Releaf Paper. Second place winner of the EPO’s Young Inventors Prize 2024

Standards are the invisible protocols that ensure our devices and services work together seamlessly. But how do they relate to patents? And what does this mean for innovation and competition?

Uncover how the interplay between standards and patents shapes technological progress. This discussion dives into how the Unified Patent Court and the Patent Mediation and Arbitration Centre aim to streamline patent litigation and enhance legal coherence across Europe.

Finally, we introduce the European Patent Office's new dataset: the Patent Standards Explorer. By linking patent applications to standards documents, it offers a valuable resource for better understanding the innovation journey. 

More information: 

Standards and the European patent system, May 2025: full study

Patent Standards Explorer dataset

"Patents, standards and innovation: securing Europe’s competitive edge" event recording

Narrator: Victor Arribas Martinez, Stream Leader, EPO Observatory on Patents and Technology

Guest: Pere Arque Castells, Stream Leader, EPO Observatory on Patents and Technology

Featuring insights from speakers at the EPO Observatory’s "Patents, standards and innovation: securing Europe’s competitive edge" event:

• Gabriele Mohsler, Vice President Patent Creation Management, Ericsson

• Kirti Gupta, Vice President and Chief Economist of Global Technology, Cornerstone Research

• Bowman Heiden, Director of the Center for Intellectual Property (CIP), University of Gothenburg

• Justus Baron, Director of BRELA and Research Director, Northwestern University Center on Law, Business and Economics

• Aleš Zalar, Director, Patent Mediation and Arbitration Centre, Unified Patent Court

• Rian Kalden, Presiding judge of the 2nd panel of the Court of Appeal, Unified Patent Court

• Alexander Haertel, Cluster Lead Patents, Deutsche Telekom

• Sophie Pasquier, Principal Licensing Counsel, Philips 

Plastic waste is a pressing global issue, polluting not just our environment but also even our bodies. Thankfully, the latest advancements in plastic waste recovery and recycling are paving the way towards a more sustainable future.

Join Marguerite McCaughan as she explores the complexities behind these processes and speaks with experts about cutting-edge solutions and the role EU policies play in promoting recycling.

In this episode Paloma Aldeguer, Chief of Staff at Recycleye, shares insights into how artificial intelligence and machine learning are revolutionising plastic sorting and recycling. Joana Xavier, Director of Transformation and Sustainability at Valorsul, also discusses the technologies currently employed at Portugal's largest municipal waste processing plant. Pauline Vandoolaeghe, a patent examiner in polymer chemistry, joins the conversation to explain the chemical processes involved in plastic recycling, which include pyrolysis, chemolysis and enzymatic depolymerisation. Together, they provide an insightful look into the future of sustainable plastics.

Narrator: Marguerite McCaughan, Communications manager, EPO

Guests:

Paloma Aldeguer, Chief of Staff, Recycleye

Joana Xavier, Director of Transformation and Sustainability, Valorsul

Pauline Vandoolaeghe, Patent examiner, EPO

Further information:

EPO technology platform on plastic waste management and alternative plastics

Full report "Plastics in transition - technologies for plastics waste management"

Deep Tech Finder

Curious where the latest technology trends are heading?

The EPO's annual Patent Index offers a comprehensive look into these advancements, tracking technological growth and patenting activity as well as top applicants and countries in the lead.

Join EPO experts as they guide you through 2024’s key insights and explore some of the top fields like computer technology; electrical machinery, apparatus, energy; and transport. They also discuss the uptake of the Unitary Patent and how often women inventors were named on patent applications.

Narrator:

Jeremy Philpott, EPO Communication Manager

Guests:

Gilles Requena, EPO Chief Patent Research and Policy Officer

Wiebke Hinrichs, EPO Patent Examiner in Cycles, Frames, Chains & Safety

Marc Nicolas, Business Analyst at the EPO

Yann Ménière, EPO Chief Economist

Further resources:

Patent Index 2024

Studies and reports

Women’s participation in inventive activity (November 2022)

EPO Observatory on Patents and Technology

How can European startups bridge the funding gap they face compared to their US counterparts?

A recent study by the EPO’s Observatory on Patents and Technology highlights the important role of tech-savvy investors and provides a comprehensive mapping of investors supporting European innovators.

Discover the unique value that tech-focused investors bring to startups from Adéla Dvořáková, a Tech-to-Market Advisor at the European Innovation Council, and Sara Frykstrand Ångström, Head of Intelligence at Sweden's venture capital fund Industrifonden. Hear them discuss the study’s key findings as they share insights on the importance of a dual financing and IP strategy, the role of smart and patient capital and the need for a balanced pipeline of investors at various stages of a startup’s technological maturity. They also discuss the main challenges European investors face compared to their US counterparts.

Moderator:

Pere Arque Castells, EPO Observatory on Patents and Technology

Guests:

Adéla Dvořáková, Tech –to Market Advisor, European Innovation Council

Sara Frykstrand Ångström, Head of Intelligence, Industrifonden

Further resources:

“Mapping investors” study

Financing innovation programme of the EPO’s Observatory on Patents and Technology

Deep Tech Finder - EPO’s tool helping match startups with investors

Space technology is evolving at light speed and may even offer solutions to global challenges such as climate change. Join expert guests as they explore the significance of space propulsion for various applications, the rapid transformation of the space sector, the growing number of players in the field and the boom in spacecraft launches over the past decade. The episode provides fascinating insights into propulsion systems, including chemical and electric propulsion, and their applications in different phases of space missions. The panel also touches on innovative concepts like atmosphere-breathing propulsion and tethered propulsion, which may drive future space missions.

Moderator:

Johannes Schaaf, EPO Chief Economist Unit

Guests:

Lars Petzold, Research Fellow, European Space Policy Institute

Stephan Speidel, Technology Transfer Engineer, HE Space Operations

Geert Boedt, EPO Chief Economist Unit

Further resources:

Patent insight report on propulsion systems for space (May 2024)

Space innovation platform

Previous podcasts on space:

“From Mars to Morocco: space innovations for Earth challenges”

"Houston, we have solutions"

"Earth observations for a greener planet" podcast

Inspiring Inventors

Hearing loss, high blood pressure, heart disease…these are just some medical issues that can be caused by loud noise. Friends and business partners Rhona Togher and Eimear O’Carroll are tackling this problem with an advanced acoustic material that can dampen noise in a variety of applications. What began as a school science fair project evolved into a business with a unique product and exceptional potential. In this episode, we explore Rhona’s journey and how friendship became the foundation for a groundbreaking business. We’ll also hear about the vital support they received from local business development organisations and patent attorneys.

Moderator: Edward Cooke, EPO, patent examiner

Inspiring Inventors:

Each episode features a former European Inventor Award finalist, delves into the story behind their invention and provides insights on how they took their idea from the lab to the market.