EPO and EUIPO add Technical University of Munich to trainee programme

The European Patent Office (EPO) and the EU Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) have signed an agreement with the Technical University of Munich (TUM) to offer the university’s graduates IP work experience.

The joint agreement will see TUM take part in the Pan-European Seal Professional Traineeship Programme—an initiative that offers graduates year-long IP traineeships at EPO and EUIPO

“In these challenging times, it is more important than ever to invest in the IP minds of tomorrow so that they can act as ambassadors for IP and the benefits it brings,” said EPO President António Campinos.

“University innovation and research activities are key to securing technological progress and addressing society’s most pressing challenges. A solid knowledge of IP protection and its benefits are essential in creating additional social and economic value.”

There are a total of 120 traineeships available through the Pan-European Seals Programme in 2021.

TUM is one of Europe's leading research universities with around 600 professors, 45,000 students and 11,000 academic and non academic staff.

Thomas F Hoffmann, TUM president said: “We firmly believe that close cooperation among the stakeholders in the IP community will lead to mutual benefits and ultimately to the benefit of society through the commercialisation of technologies, which in turn leads to the development of innovative products and solutions to technical problems, generates revenue, and creates jobs.”

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