On 18 June 2026, the IP4OS project hosted the webinar "Understanding Patents in an Open Science Ecosystem". The session featured Dr. Julia Konrad, Associate Partner and Patent Attorney at COHAUSZ & FLORACK, as the speaker and was moderated by Vanessa Guzek.

The webinar addressed one of the key challenges for researchers working in Open Science: how to openly share scientific knowledge while safeguarding inventions with commercial potential through patents. Dr. Konrad explained the fundamentals of patent protection, including the structure of a patent, the patent granting procedure, and the essential patentability requirements of novelty and inventive step. She also shared practical guidance on managing publications, preprints, conference presentations, and research data to avoid unintentionally compromising future patent protection.

In the second part of the webinar, participants explored how existing patents can affect research activities. Dr. Konrad explained the distinction between conducting research on patented research tools and research with patented research tools, highlighting that the applicability of research exemptions depends on national legislation and the specific use case. 

The webinar concluded with an engaging Q&A session covering topics such as publishing research after filing a patent application, the growing impact of AI-generated prior art on patentability assessments, and practical strategies for balancing Open Science practices with effective intellectual property protection.

We sincerely thank Dr. Julia Konrad for sharing her expertise and valuable practical insights, and we thank all participants for their active engagement and thoughtful questions.