Science & Engineering Internship programme European Patent Office

Job description

Every year, the EPO offers a limited number of three to six-month internships to engineering and science students who hold the minimum requirement of a technical bachelor's (or equivalent level) degree.

This is a unique opportunity to discover one of the world's leading patent offices and to work in a truly international environment. Interns work side by side with examiners who tutor them throughout the internship. They carry out complex re-classification work on patent applications and receive training relating to patents and other areas of IP, and various aspects of an examiner's work.

Aims of the internship

As an intern, you will

• receive training relating to IP in general, the patent granting process and classification systems, and the tools used by examiners
• re-classify patent applications under the supervision of an examiner
• get an insight into the latest R&D trends
• report on your experiences to your tutor and the HR department

Person requirements

You must:

• be a national of one of the EPO member states.
• provide evidence of your own health insurance.
• working hours : per default 40 hours/week.

If this is not possible, please indicate in your cv/motivation letter the number of hours that you are available. Full time presence is required during the initial training and follow-up training days.

• duration: per default 6 months.

Please indicate on the application form if you are only available for a shorter period.

Multiple sessions per year (Feb, Apr, Jun, Sept, Nov)

Company information

The European Patent Office (EPO) is the second-largest intergovernmental organisation inEurope, employing almost 7 000 staff from over 30 countries. The EPO strives to support innovation and promote a knowledge-based society inEurope. Its mission is to secure the highest quality standards in patenting.

A career at the EPO provides a unique opportunity for engineers and scientists to work with tomorrow's technologies today, in a multinational and intellectually stimulating environment. Our examiners deal on a daily basis with the latest and most challenging technical innovations.     

Qualification and experience requirements

You must:

• hold a technical bachelor's or a technical master's degree (or equivalent qualifications) at the date of application, preferably in one of the above mentioned technical fields.
• have a very good knowledge of English.
• knowledge of technical French and/or technical German would be an advantage.
• your degree should have been obtained no more than 2 years prior to the date of application.

Accepted degree subjects

• mathematics
• engineering, transport
• physics
• engineering, aerospace
• engineering, mechanical
• biology and life sciences
• chemical engineering
• materials science
• environmental science and ecology
• civil engineering and construction
• pharmacy and pharmacology
• food sciences
• engineering, electronic and electrical
• chemistry
• computer sciences and IT