The quality of the products and services is an important reason for the great trust applicants have in the DPMA. Consequently, the quality of patent examination is our main priority; at the same time, we focus on the intensive technical and substantive examination — without too many formalities. In view of this, we have introduced several quality assurance measures in the examination procedure, effective immediately. To improve the quality and consistency of first office actions, we had previously prepared a template that is now regularly used as a basis for the review of first office actions. Furthermore, we have developed a new training course relating to search strategies that uses AI to teach how to use certain search tools in the most effective possible way, and we have integrated new functions to document searches in the electronic IP case file.

To identify and define options for additional future improvements, we aim to conduct customer surveys on the satisfaction with first office actions.

Industry, technology, teaching and intellectual property (IP) become more and more interconnected: For a short time, Technische Hochschule Ingolstadt (THI) has offered the master’s course Patent Engineering (M.Sc.), the only one of its kind in Germany. The special thing about that programme is the combination of technical contents and IP knowledge — a novelty in Germany’s higher education landscape.

The DPMA appreciates and promotes this development. Within the scope of a cooperation agreement with the THI, the DPMA provides the THI with information or guest contributions of its staff and intensely promotes the comprehensive IP offering of the THI, e.g. the Ingolstadt Patent Day or the regularly held Ingolstadt Patent Talks, on its social media channels.

In this way, we make an important contribution to raising awareness of IP already at higher education establishments and universities. Information about what else we do for educational establishments can be found here (in German). Feel free to contact us!