IP and youth

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IP is for youngsters!

A solid knowledge of IP protection and its benefits is essential for creating additional social and economic value. We want to support younger generations by helping them learn more about IP, fostering their creativity and inventive talent.

The European Patent Office, the European Union Intellectual Property Office and national IP offices offer several initiatives to younger innovators:

European Patent Office

Young Inventors prize

Younger generations play an essential role in shaping our common future, and acknowledging their potential is a must. To encourage the next generation of inventors, the European Patent Office has now established the Young Inventors prize. Aimed at innovators up to age 30, it will recognise problem-solving initiatives across all technical fields and offer cash prizes to the winner and two additional finalists.

The Pan-European Seal Young Professionals Programme

As young professionals at the European Patent Office (EPO), the second-largest intergovernmental organisation in Europe, high-achieving university graduates can undertake challenging assignments in a range of departments at the EPO’s headquarters in Munich, Germany. Through a combination of on-the-job work experience and professional training, trainees get to learn, develop their skills and increase their employability within specific areas of competence. The programme is run by the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) in Alicante, Spain.

European Union Intellectual Property Office

The Pan-European Seal Professional Traineeship Programme

This programme gives high-achieving, young university graduates access to a year-long paid traineeship, offering them a unique opportunity to launch their careers and gain valuable insights. The programme is promoted in partnership with the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) in Alicante, Spain and the European Patent Office (EPO) in Munich, Germany.

Virtual School Visits

Under the EUIPO Virtual Campus Programme, the EUIPO has launched a brand-new learning experience for young people. The EUIPO invites school classes to sign up for an interesting, fun and interactive virtual learning journey about the European Union, the importance of intellectual property for young people and the main activities of the EUIPO. This offering is available in five languages (DE, EN, ES, FR and IT).

The EUIPO Observatory

The EUIPO Observatory runs various activities for young people to raise awareness about IP under the brand Ideas Powered.

One of its initiatives, Ideas Powered@School, aims to promote creativity, innovation, entrepreneurship and responsible digital engagement among young Europeans. The IP in Education team has created a range of free IP information and materials, many of which are available in all EU languages.

In addition, the EUIPO Observatory has recently published FAQs on copyright for teachers and students with information on the opportunities that copyright protection offers them as potential creators of works within the context of education.

Furthermore, the Ideas Powered for Creatives initiative holds workshops with young creatives to discuss ways to generate interest and engagement among their peers on how intellectual property relates to creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship. In 2022, they organised the Powered Up Festival to inspire Europe's creative community to power and protect original ideas.

You can find Ideas Powered on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube!

Benelux Office for Intellectual Property

ThatsIP: e-learning course on IP for students

This free-of-charge e-learning course is developed specifically for higher education students who want to learn about intellectual property.

Are you a lecturer? You can use ThatsIP free of charge in your education programme. A lecturer manual is available.

German Patent and Trade Mark Office

Youth is your chance - and so is intellectual property!

Interested in finding out about the invention that earned Rieke Hackbarth first prize in the "Jugend forscht" competition? And why she applied for a patent for her invention at the German Patent and Trade Mark Office (DPMA)?

National Institute of Industrial Property (France) - INPI

New! Learn about intellectual property with the INPI MOOCs!

The INPI supports start-ups!

Test your knowledge of IP with the INPI serious games!

Patent Office of the Republic of Latvia

Fake dimension

This spring, the Latvian Patent Office is organising a contest for young people (aged 16-35). The contest encourages participants to create creative, digital content on fakes and piracy in the context of intellectual property.

Patent Office of the Republic of Poland

The Office carries out a wide range of activities promoting creativity and inventiveness among Polish youth. Through the "Intellectual Property in Your School" project, the Office shares practical knowledge on intellectual property protection among secondary school students and teachers. As a partner to the joint master's degree programme in intellectual property and new technologies offered by the Jagiellonian University, it educates new generations in IP-related issues. It also stages annual poster and short video competitions to encourage young people to express their views on IP through art. Its frequent visits to schools and participation in external IP-related initiatives allow it to share knowledge and open young minds to inventive thinking.

National Institute of Industrial Property (Portugal) - INPI

"IP for all" project

As part of the Portuguese Anti-Counterfeiting Group's work, and with the co-operation of the Portuguese national police and the National Republican Guard, INPI has created "IP for all" - a project that aims to raise awareness of the importance of IP and the harm caused by counterfeiting and piracy at schools.