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Jugend forscht - research with patent protection in mind

The German Patent and Trade Mark Office, with the support of patent attorneys, is offering ‘patent coaching’ for the first time at the Bavarian regional round of the ‘Jugend forscht’ competition to help turn inventions into commercial ventures – the pilot project could be rolled out across the whole of Germany – DPMA Vice-President Bernd Maile: raising awareness of intellectual property among young people and preventing the illegal copying of inventions

Press release of 10 April 2026

Munich. To help young inventors protect their intellectual property, the German Patent and Trade Mark Office, with the support of the Chamber of Patent Attorneys, has developed a patent coaching programme for school pupils. The coaching will take place for the first time next week – as a pilot project at the Bavarian regional competition of ‘Jugend forscht’. There, young people will present their developed ideas to a patent attorney – and, if they wish, can receive two hours of specific advice on patent protection. They will learn exactly what inventive step entails and find out how they can protect their intellectual property with a patent. The regional competition will take place from 13 to 15 April at the sponsoring company ‘Rohde & Schwarz’ in Munich.

“For six decades now, ‘Jugend forscht’ has been a powerful driving force behind an innovative society. The participants in ‘Jugend forscht’ produce fascinating projects across all categories of the competition – and much of this work has commercial potential. It is very important to us to make young people aware that they are creating intellectual property. Only industrial property rights, such as patents, can prevent their inventions from being illegally copied,”, says DPMA Vice-President Bernd Maile. “Translating outstanding research achievements into attractive products and services more quickly and consistently: this is still too often where the problem lies in Germany. Industrial property rights are an essential prerequisite for ensuring that inventions arising from research and development can realise their full economic potential. ‘Jugend forscht’ is exactly the right platform for raising awareness of this among school pupils.”

DPMA initiative meets with a strong response from patent attorneys

The DPMA’s initiative to provide patent coaching for young inventors met with a great deal of support from the patent profession: following a call from the German Chamber of Patent Attorneys, around 170 patent attorneys from across Germany and beyond would have been willing to provide coaching free of charge. The majority of the experts now providing advice as part of the pilot project are based in the Munich area. A patent attorney is even travelling from Switzerland for the occasion. “The patent coaching highlights the appreciation shown for young inventors. In practical terms, it gives young people the opportunity to explore the important issue of intellectual property protection as part of the ‘Jugend forscht’ competition,” says Uli Herwanger, head of the Bavarian regional competition.

Important: Remember to consider patent protection before publication

Around 10,000 children and young people take part in the “Jugend forscht” competition across Germany every year. These are organised in stages: regional, state and national competitions. Anyone who makes and presents an invention as part of the competition should apply for a patent immediately. Surprisingly for many: if an invention is published as part of “Jugend forscht”, even the inventor themselves can no longer apply for a patent afterwards. Once such a publication has been made, the invention already forms part of the state of the art; it therefore ‘detracts from novelty’ within the meaning of the Patents Act.

It all depends on the filing date

As a patent application for an invention must be filed before publication, simplified applications are frequently submitted for ‘Jugend forscht’ projects – with the aim of verifiably securing the filing date (priority date). Young inventors can use this ‘placeholder’ for up to twelve months after ‘Anmelden mit Prio’ to submit a full patent application.

The German Patent and Trade Mark Office

Inventiveness and creativity need effective protection. The DPMA is the German centre of expertise for all intellectual property rights – patents, utility models, trade marks and designs. As the largest national patent office in Europe and the sixth largest national patent office in the world, our office stands for the future of Germany as a country of inventors in a globalised economy. Its staff of around 2,800 at three locations – Munich, Jena and Berlin – provide services to inventors and companies. They implement federal innovation strategies and develop the national, European and international protection systems.

Pictures: Stiftung Jugend forscht e. V.

Last updated: 10 April 2026