Pan-European Seals Programme: EPO EUIPO and Technical University of Munich join forces to promote IP in higher education

[Photo provided = EPO website (https://www.epo.org/index.html)]

Munich 10 February 2021 - The European Patent Office (EPO) the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and the Technical University of Munich (TUM) signed a partnership agreement on 4 February 2021 as part of efforts to promote IP in higher education. Under the agreement TUM will participate in the Pan-European Seal Professional Traineeship Programme a vibrant network of over 80 academic institutions across Europe with a pronounced interest in intellectual property (IP) that gives university graduates the opportunity to gain valuable professional experience at the EPO and EUIPO.

In these challenging times it is more important than ever to invest in the IP minds of tomorrow so that they can act as ambassadors for IP and the benefits it brings said EPO President António Campinos. University innovation and research activities are key to securing technological progress and addressing societys most pressing challenges. A solid knowledge of IP protection and its benefits are essential in creating additional social and economic value.

Thomas F. Hoffmann TUM President said: We firmly believe that close cooperation among the stakeholders in the IP community will lead to mutual benefits and ultimately to the benefit of society through the commercialization of technologies which in turn leads to the development of innovative products and solutions to technical problems generates revenue and creates jobs. Supported by its entrepreneurial mindset TUM has substantially increased the numbers of applications for European patents in recent years.

Under the partnership eligible TUM graduates with a technical background will be able to apply for paid one-year professional traineeships at the EPO and the EUIPO. As part of the Programme they will experience work in a collaborative multicultural environment undertake challenging assignments and have an opportunity to build their professional networks.

Jointly organised by the EPO and the EUIPO the Pan - European Seals Programme is a framework for strategic co-operation between the two IP offices and European universities that is designed to foster a modern IP culture throughout Europe. It seeks to enhance education on IP and to bridge the gap between academia and the labour market. IP rights play a crucial role in the European economy: According to a joint study by the EPO and EUIPO businesses that use rights such as patents trademarks and registered designs intensively generate 45% of GDP in the EU annually and account for 39% of all jobs in the region.

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