Under the motto “Securing the Future Through IP,” PATINFO2026, the TU Ilmenau’s international colloquium on patent information and industrial property rights, will take place in Ilmenau from June 10 to 12. In an era of artificial intelligence, geopolitical change, and pressure to innovate, the protection of intellectual property faces major challenges—but these challenges also present significant opportunities. At the invitation of the Thuringia State Patent Center, international experts will gather for three days at the Festhalle in Ilmenau. Program: www.paton.tu-ilmenau.de/patinfo/programm
Intellectual property encompasses all intangible rights and creations protected by law. PATINFO2026, the 48th colloquium of the Technical University of Ilmenau on patent information and industrial property rights, is entirely dedicated to the challenges and opportunities arising from the use of artificial intelligence, as well as from geopolitical changes and increasing pressure to innovate, for the protection of IP in the economy.
PATINFO2026 – the international colloquium on patent information and industrial property
Organized by the PATON Thuringia State Patent Center at TU Ilmenau, PATINFO is the largest conference of its kind in Germany—the forum for the exchange of experiences between public, private, and commercial providers as well as users regarding patents, trademarks, and designs.
To kick off PATINFO2026, Colette Boos-John, Thuringian Minister for Economic Affairs, Agriculture, and Rural Development, and Eva Schewior, President of the German Patent and Trademark Office in Munich, will welcome conference participants on June 11 at 9 a.m.
Artificial Intelligence for Efficient IP Intelligence
The colloquium will focus on new forms of IP intelligence, i.e., the data-driven analysis and monitoring of intellectual property. The spotlight is particularly on artificial intelligence: current activities of international organizations at the intersection of intellectual property rights and AI, and the question of how companies can integrate AI into their innovation and IP processes. A panel discussion will address the central question of whether AI can become a driver of innovation—and what conditions must be created in the IP environment to make this possible.
International presentations will shed light on strategic aspects of the national and European patent systems, the development of the unitary patent, and current trends in trademark, design, and copyright law. Short presentations will introduce the latest developments regarding intellectual property data, software, and services.
PATINFO2026 – Extensive supporting program with workshops, expert seminars, and an exhibition
In free workshops, participants can acquire the latest knowledge and skills regarding patent information and intellectual property protection. For the first time, PATINFO is offering two expert training seminars that will demonstrate, for example, how to combine patent searches with economic information searches. The conference will be accompanied by an exhibition featuring 30 companies. Software providers and information service providers will present their latest developments in intellectual property data, software, and services.
Contact
Dr. Christoph Hoock
Head of PATON | Thuringia State Patent Center
+49 3677 69-4573
christoph.hoock@tu-ilmenau.de
