Section

  • Lecture 1: Patenting in smart agriculture – challenges from an examiner/patent office perspective

    • The technologies englobed under the umbrella of what we know as “smart agriculture” promise a revolution never seen before in agriculture. Indeed, the feeding the world’s growing population in a sustainable way and reducing the impact of climate change are challenges that can also be tackled through innovation. Smart agriculture has therefore drawn the attention of many companies, investors and governments looking to stimulate innovation in this area. It is no wonder that patenting in smart agriculture has increased greatly, creating a shift in the traditional mechanical agricultural technologies towards electronics, CII and AI inventions. At the EPO we also take smart agriculture very seriously and have taken steps to make sure we are up to the challenges, too. In this lecture, it is explained why innovation in smart agriculture is important, how EPO examiners deal with it and what challenges smart agriculture patents pose to examiners.


      Ricardo Oltra, team manager, EPO

    • Recorded online lecture

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  • Lecture 2: Developing an IP strategy: practical and post-grant aspects of smart agriculture patents

    • From universities and SMEs to global companies, there are many different strategies for protecting inventions. Flexible IP strategies adapted to a company’s growth phases or its changing position in the innovation cycle help inventors best exploit the full value of their patents. Which IP-related issue should you focus on if you are a growing start-up in smart agriculture or an established company that is switching to smart agriculture solutions?
      Watch this video to find out more about these topics. 

      Paul Jennen, Dutch and European patent attorney, Octrooibureau Van der Lely N.V.

    • Recorded online lecture

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  • Lecture 3: IP related challenges for an in-house IP team in a smart agriculture environment

    • Smart agriculture has changed the landscape of the traditional technologies associated with agriculture. From AI to satellites, autonomous robots and computer implemented inventions, protection is required for a variety of different products and methods. This is true for research institutions, universities and SMEs, as well as for larger companies. However, as larger companies may have larger market share and in-house attorneys, their challenges are often different to those faced by SMEs and universities.
      This video reflects these aspects.

      Fabian Dertenkötter, European patent attorney, Amazonen-Werke H. Dreyer SE & Co. KG

    • Recorded online lecture

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  • Lecture 4: A Day in the Life of an Inventor from the smart agriculture industry

    • How can inventors overcome challenges and hurdles to successfully reach the market? Watch this video to find out more about experiences and best practices. 

      Paul Jennen, Dutch and European patent attorney at Octrooibureau Van der Lely N.V.

    • Recorded online lecture

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