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Protecting innovation is a ‘key issue for our industrial location’

DPMAimpuls dialogue format: DPMA discusses Germany's innovation landscape with experts from industry, academia and the judiciary in Munich – Close exchange on the protection of intellectual property in important future technologies

Press release of 17 November 2025

Munich. The German Patent and Trade Mark Office (DPMA) is continuing to intensify its dialogue with industry on the protection of innovations, particularly in key areas for the future. As part of the DPMAimpuls dialogue format, DPMA managers and experts met this Friday in Munich with representatives from industry, science, associations and organisations, as well as from the judiciary under the motto ‘IP expertise in Germany's innovation network’. In addition to keynote speeches – for example, on the transfer of intellectual property from science to industry and the strategic use of industrial property rights – the focus was primarily on exchanging ideas on the national innovation landscape. The aim of this exciting and diverse communication format is to identify specialist topics that will be explored in greater depth elsewhere. For example, at the end of November, the DPMA will hold a workshop with companies from the biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors to discuss the specific challenges for property rights in this area.

‘The protection of innovations is a decisive factor for the international competitiveness of our companies and thus a key issue for our industrial location,’ said DPMA President Eva Schewior. ‘If we want to promote technical progress and secure our prosperity, we must offer optimal conditions for the protection of intellectual property, especially in important future technologies. Open dialogue with the business community about the needs of companies is therefore a key concern for us.’

At the event in Munich, discussions were based on input from external and internal experts: Dr Bernadett Simon, Head of the Transfer Department in the Research Management and Transfer Division at the University of Cologne and member of the board of Transfer Allianz e.V., spoke on ‘IP exploitation in science: challenges in knowledge and technology transfer in Germany’; Dr Manuel Neetz, Head of IP Diagnostic Imaging at Siemens Healthineers, spoke about the ‘Strategic use of IP in collaborations’; Lukas Littmann, Innovation Policy Officer at the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce, assessed the current state of the German innovation system; Dr Oliver Schön, Presiding Judge at Munich Regional Court I, gave a presentation on ‘Patent enforcement in Germany’; DPMA expert Roger Hildebrandt reported on raising awareness and imparting knowledge about industrial property rights from the DPMA's perspective.

DPMAimpuls took place for the third time. In the past, important practical approaches have already emerged from the dialogue format. For example, patent examiners exchanged ideas with companies in a workshop on computer-implemented – i.e. software-based – inventions. The focus was particularly on the criterion of technicality for patentability. In internal patent law workshops, DPMA experts sharpen their current understanding of various topics, such as inventive step, which is a core criterion of patent law.

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 – for 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, it represents the future of Germany as a country of inventors in a globalised economy. Its approximately 2,800 employees at three locations – Munich, Jena and Berlin – provide services to inventors and companies. They implement the Federal Government's innovation strategies and further develop national, European and international protection systems.

Picture: DPMA

Last updated: 17 November 2025