“Patents an incentive in advancing technology and securing Europe competitive edge”

Dr. Abderrahim Moumen

Operational Director, Directorate Advanced Mobile and intelligent Networks

European Patent Office

Chair: James H. Lambert, University of Virginia, USA                                Room: Ballroom 

Abstract

Europe is home to one of the most advanced and harmonized patent systems in the world. The European Patent Office (EPO), through the European Patent (EP) system, offers centralized examination and granting procedures across up to 39 contracting states, reducing administrative burdens and ensuring broad protection. The recent implementation of the Unitary Patent and the Unified Patent Court (UPC) marks a historic leap forward. This new framework simplifies patent litigation under a single jurisdiction, significantly lowering legal complexity and costs—particularly benefiting startups, SMEs, and research institutions seeking reliable and enforceable IP protection across Europe.

This keynote will provide an overview of the European patent landscape, with a particular focus on the transformative impact of the Unitary Patent system. It will highlight the EPO’s ongoing initiatives to enhance accessibility and strategic value for SMEs, startups, and universities—such as support for deep tech innovation, access to comprehensive prior art, advanced patent classification, and the use of patents as tools for technology intelligence.

Finally, the talk will spotlight emerging technological trends—such as artificial intelligence, clean energy, quantum technologies, and biotechnology—drawing on insights from the EPO’s 2024 Patent Index. These trends reflect not only where innovation is headed, but where Europe's future influence can and must be secured.

Biography of Dr. Abderrahim Moumen

Dr. Abderrahim Moumen is Operational Director at the European Patent Office (EPO), where he leads the Directorate for Advanced Mobile and Intelligent Networks. With a Ph.D. in Telecommunications from Delft University, he joined the EPO in 2000 as a patent examiner, gaining deep expertise over 17 years. Since becoming director in 2020, he has overseen departments covering multimedia technologies, wireless communications, radar/lidar, and traffic control systems. He co-chairs the EPO’s AI and Emerging Technologies Task Force and contributes to strategic initiatives on standards and innovation. His interests include AI, IoT, 5G, quantum computing, and smart antennas. Passionate about sustainability, he served on the jury for the EPO’s CodeFest and helped reinforce cooperation with EU institutions, particularly the European Innovation Council and EISMEA, strengthening the EPO’s role in the global innovation ecosystem.