MUNICH - The European Patent Office (EPO) has participated in this year’s KlimaHerbst, the month-long series of inspiring public events in Munich that covers a comprehensive range of climate-related topics and runs until early November 2024, a press release stated by EPO. 

At a well-attended KlimaHerbst event in the Munich Urban Colab, the Office joined a panel discussion on the topic of employment, economics and finance in the climate crisis. Held by the City of Munich’s Department of Labor and Economy (Referat für Arbeit und Wirtschaft), the event was introduced by its Officer for Labour and Economic Affairs Clemens Baumgärtner. Together with the EPO, senior representatives from the media group Burda and manufacturer MTU Aero Engines appeared on the panel. Like the EPO, both companies have their headquarters in the city and are signatories of Munich’s Climate Pact, which the Office signed in 2019.

Implementing innovative and sustainable solutions

A lively discussion explored the responsibilities and opportunities that arise for companies in the face of the climate crisis. The EPO’s commitment to environmental sustainability and to carbon neutrality by 2030 was emphasized, along with a diverse range of related EPO initiatives. These include joining forces with local communities in support of climate action (UN SDG13), as well as sharing patent knowledge (UN SDG4) with inventors, innovators and investors through various channels, such as our technology platforms, Deep Tech Finder and numerous studies. The contribution of these activities to sustainable innovation was met with great interest in the audience, which included students as well as representatives of university spin-outs and SMEs.

The event once again demonstrated that dialogue between large organizations, municipal bodies and civil society is essential for paving the way to implementing innovative and sustainable solutions for the future and, at the same time, to raise public awareness of the possibilities that collaboration within local communities presents.