Main content:
Candidate Support Programme: Meet the Austrian Participants
The European Patent Office has selected two Austrian candidates for the Candidate Support Programme (CSP). Congratulations!
As the protection of intellectual property becomes increasingly important, young professionals in the field of patent and trademark law are in high demand. Since women are still under-represented in this field, the European Patent Office has launched the Candidate Support Programme (CSP).
This initiative aims to support qualified junior professionals on their path to becoming a European Patent Attorney: The European Patent Office covers all costs for the selected candidates' preparation for the European Qualifying Examination. This includes examination fees, the virtual training programme, and individual mentoring by experienced patent attorneys.
The Winners
Following the application period from 8 July to 15 August 2025, the Austrian selection committee has now nominated two participants:
Sophie Bergmann, PhD, works at REDL Life Science Patents in Vienna and is in training to become a European Patent Attorney. Her expertise lies in biomedicine and biotechnology.
Silvia Ingrid Worch is employed by the Plansee Group in Reutte. The company is a world market leader in powder metallurgical processing of tungsten and molybdenum metals.
As part of the “pay it forward” model, both candidates commit to contributing at least 20 hours to coaching activities after successfully completing the exam, thereby supporting the next generation. The aim is to create a sustainable training and mentoring network for women in the IP sector.
The Selection Committee
The selection of candidates was carried out by a high-ranking national advisory board:
Österreichische Patentanwaltskammer (ÖPAK)
Siemens
Austria Wirtschaftsservice GmbH (aws)
Österreichische Forschungsförderungs-gesellschaft (FFG)
©Klaus Morgenstern
Austrian Patent Office
©Susanne Einzenberger
