Alexandre Tsoukalis

Using an illustrative IP success story in med tech and some practical frameworks, we will explore how intellectual property management can add value to your business from a strategic perspective. The European Patent Office (EPO) has produced a series of studies on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) which are leveraging the power of patents and other IP rights to achieve business success. The studies illustrate how young and established SMEs have developed the IP management capabilities they need, and how they are using IP strategically to their advantage. Micrel Medical Devices, one of the businesses analysed in the EPO's very popular SME case study collection, will showcase the evolution of its IP strategies throughout different phases of its development, and how this went hand in hand with changing product features and target customers over three generations of patents. As computer-implemented inventions (CII) played a crucial role, the latest insights into the patentability of CII will demonstrate how emerging technologies can be protected to create a sustainable competitive advantage for businesses.