Speakers from the European Patent Office will first explore the policies which encourage innovation: patents and their alternatives. Patents promote technology diffusion to markets in more ways than you would imagine. After an introduction to the current patent procedure in Europe, the proposals for the Unitary Patent and Unified Patent Court will be described, showing how long-needed reforms are creating the patent system European innovators really need if they are to protect markets and attract investment. This will lead to a concluding presentation about the economic impact of patents: central to prosperity and progress in Europe.
The plenary will be completed by a case study from an inspirational innovator who has won the
European Inventor Award.
