European Patent Office
With 6,300 staff members, the European Patent Office (EPO) is one of the largest public service institutions in Europe. Headquartered in Munich with offices in Berlin, Brussels, The Hague and Vienna, the EPO was founded with the aim of strengthening co-operation on patents in Europe. Through the EPO's centralised patent granting procedure, inventors are able to obtain high-quality patent protection in up to 46 countries, covering a market of some 715 million people. The EPO is also the world's leading authority in patent information and patent searching.
Lifetime Achievement for pioneer in power-conversion technology behind electric grids
European Patent Office - For his outstanding career in power electronics and grid infrastructure, the European Patent Office (EPO) has announced that Rainer Marquardt is the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement distinction for the European Inventor Award 2026. The EPO will honour his work during the ceremony livestreamed from Berlin on 2 July 2026, at which the winners of the Industry, Non-EPO Countries, Research and SMEs categories will also be announced.
