Eurice CEO Jörg Scherer at the EU Industry Days 2022: Join us for Europe’s annual flagship event in February

Between 8 and 11 February 2022, the EU Industry Days will bring together government actors, industry players and academia to discuss industry challenges and co-develop opportunities and policy responses in an inclusive dialogue. The 2022 event, organised by the European Commission and key stakeholders, will take place both in Brussels and online in a hybrid format. Since 2017, the EU Industry Days have become the flagship EU event on industrial policy and gather thousands of participants each year.

In the ongoing effort of the European Commission to strengthen EU companies and, in particular, small and medium-sized companies (SMEs), several discussion sessions with a strong focus on building resilience and managing transitions will take place throughout the EU Industry Days.

On 9 February (3:15 p.m. – 4:00 p.m., CET), Eurice CEO Jörg Scherer will join other experts for a panel discussion on the unitary patent system and SME instruments in the area of intellectual property (IP). The panel discussion will be focusing on the EU’s SME instruments and provide an overview of all the relevant initiatives. It will also present the upcoming unitary patent system – a new type of European patent in an advanced stage of adoption which will make it possible to get patent protection in up to 25 EU Member States by submitting a single request to the European Patent Office (EPO).

“SMEs face several challenges due to the lack of resources and knowledge on how to manage their IP portfolio. The Commission and the participating Member States are now very close to launching the EU unitary patent system. With the unitary patent, European companies, and particularly SMEs, will be able to protect their inventions on the EU market more easily and at a more competitive price,” Jörg Scherer points out.

The session will give practical information on the initiatives of the different public and private entities and more specific advice to SMEs on how to manage their intangible assets and offer orientation on the various tools. It will also provide an opportunity for SMEs to voice their needs and, thus, shape the EU’s future SME policy.

Jörg Scherer adds: “It is a pleasure to discuss with expert colleagues from the European Commission, European Union Intellectual Property Office and the European Patent Office how to better demonstrate clarity and interconnectivity of the IP support ecosystem.”

Further spotlight topics of the 2022 EU Industry Days include the ongoing green and digital transitions and, in line with the Commission proposal to make 2022 the European Year of Youth, how the young generation can shape the future of the EU industry. President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, will deliver the keynote speech.

The EU Industry Days 2022 will be framed by the EU Industry Weeks, which bring the discussion to the local communities with virtual workshops, fairs, seminars, open door sessions and business presentations. Local events are taking place across the EU and beyond as part of the EU Industry Weeks 2022 until the end of February 2022. More on the EU Industry Weeks can be found here: https://eu-industry-days.ec.europa.eu/eu-industry-weeks

Registration for the events is now open. For more information, please visit: https://ec.europa.eu/info/policies/business-and-industry/eu-industry-days_en