The role of artificial intelligence in Intellectual Property is entering a new phase. What was once experimental is now becoming an integral part of how patent professionals approach analysis, decision-making, and their daily workflows. As AI continues to mature, the focus is shifting from possibilities to practical implementation—how these technologies can be used effectively, responsibly, and at scale.

Against this backdrop, we are pleased to announce that PatentMaker will participate in the 2nd AI & IP Forum in Munich on April 23, hosted by the Forum Institute. The event will bring together a distinguished group of experts from across the IP industry, including representatives from Institutes, leading corporations and patent law firms, including:

• Angel Aledo Lopez (EPO’s CTO / COO) 
• Kemal Bengi-Akyürek (Chair of the EPO Boards of Appeals)

One of the highlights of the forum will be the panel discussion on “AI in law practice”, which will focus on concrete use cases and practical frameworks for integrating AI into patent workflows. The panel will feature renowned experts from both industry and private practice, including:

• Filip De Corte (Head IP Crop Protection Syngenta)
• Marc-Michael Barf (Director Corporate Patents, Infineon Technologies)
• Christian Pioch (Partner, Maiwald Intellectual Property)
• Daniel Werner (Partner, BARDEHLE PAGENBERG)

We are particularly proud that our founder, Dr. Matthias Hofmann, will moderate this panel. As a German and European patent attorney and equity partner at Boehmert & Boehmert, Dr. Hofmann brings extensive practical experience in advising leading international companies. In this role, he will guide the discussion on how AI can be effectively applied in real-world legal and patent environments—moving beyond theory to actionable insights.

At PatentMaker, we strongly believe that the future of AI in IP lies not only in technological advancement, but in practical usability and integration into daily workflows. Events such as the AI & IP Forum provide an important platform to exchange perspectives, share experiences, and collectively shape the next phase of AI adoption in the field.

We would like to thank Jean-Claude Alexandre Ho, LL.M. and the team at FORUM • Institut für Management GmbH for organizing this excellent event.

We look forward to engaging discussions in Munich and to connecting with peers across the industry to explore where AI in Intellectual Property is heading next.