How do you protect good ideas? Retrospective of the Ingolstadt patent workshop

How can clever ideas and developments be protected against imitation? And why is it worthwhile for start-ups, researchers, and companies to think about patents, trademarks, or designs at an early stage? These questions were the focus of the Ingolstadt patent workshop organised by Ingolstadt University of Applied Sciences (THI).

Protecting ideas, utilising potential: Professor Andrea Klug (2nd from right) invited experts to talk about patents (Photo: THI).

The event was a joint initiative of the THI Start-up Centre, the THI Campus for Continuing Education, and the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology. Around 65 participants took part - from students and founders to experts from research and development.

Professor Andrea Klug, Vice President of Academic Continuing Education at THI, and Dr Christian Mohr, patent attorney and lecturer, opened the event by welcoming the audience. Both made it clear that intellectual property is far more than just legal theory - it is a real success factor for innovation and economic strength.

One highlight was the keynote speech by Mareike Kleemeier, in-house patent attorney at Electrolux AB, entitled ‘The smartest part of your start-up is invisible - and that's your problem’. She vividly explained why IP strategies should be considered from the outset. Using many practical examples, she showed how patents and trademarks can give you a head start and what you need to bear in mind.

Afterwards, things became practical: in interactive workshops, participants developed protection strategies for fictitious start-ups in small groups, exchanged ideas, and received direct feedback. Mareike Kleemeier accompanied the groups with a great deal of expertise and a clear view of the real-life challenges.

Conclusion: A successful evening with lots of input, exciting discussions, and a topic that is relevant for everyone who wants to make a difference with new ideas.

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