Prime Highlights
- The EPO and BPW Europe deepened cooperation to promote women’s participation in STEM and innovation.
- The EPO reaffirmed its target of achieving 40% women representation in its workforce by 2028.
Key Facts
- BPW Europe represents more than 17,000 members across 30 countries.
- Only 26% of patent applications across EPO member states include at least one woman inventor.
Background
The European Patent Office sat down with a delegation from Business and Professional Women Europe at its Munich headquarters in the final week of April. The conversation revolved around two key areas advancing gender equality in science and innovation and making the patent system easier to navigate for smaller players.
Representatives from both sides discussed ways to bring more women into STEM fields and remove practical barriers that often prevent startups, small businesses, and underrepresented groups from engaging with the patent system.
On the EPO’s part, the office pointed to a number of ongoing efforts. Its Young Professionals Programme targets female talent at an early stage, while Girls’ Day, held annually, aims to introduce young girls to careers in science and technology. The EPO also restated its workforce target of having women make up at least 40% of its staff by 2028.
BPW Europe, which counts more than 17,000 members across 30 countries, brought to the table its experience in advocacy, mentorship, and entrepreneurship support. The organisation stressed that changing perceptions early, through visible role models and challenging entrenched stereotypes, remains central to its work.
The EPO also shared findings from a recent study tracking how women progress through patenting, research, and innovation careers. The meeting also covered practical support for SMEs and startups, from fee reductions to outreach efforts that help first-time applicants get to grips with patent protection.
Both parties see the meeting as a foundation for continued policy dialogue and a step toward broader female participation in Europe’s innovation landscape.
