Innovator.UL 2026: From Patent to a Successful Innovation
We invite you to participate in Inovator.UL, which this year offers two thematically tailored tracks for researchers at the University of Ljubljana – in the fields of Life Sciences and Technical Sciences (Tech-Sciences).
The two tracks will take place in parallel on April 14 and 15, 2026, and will address key milestones on the path from research, through patenting, to successful innovation, with a strong practical focus:
- identifying potential innovations within research work,
- protection and management of intellectual property,
- transfer of knowledge to industry and the wider society.
In addition to the expert lectures, you will have the opportunity to attend individual patent consultations with internationally established patent attorneys, Dr. Heiko Pittner and Dr. Stig Benthin, who will provide personalized advice on specific cases of patent protection for results from your research work.
Program: Technical Sciences
Technical Sciences, April 14, 2026
Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Ljubljana (FS UL), Aškerčeva cesta 6, Ljubljana
Individual Patent Consultations – Technical Sciences FS UL, small meeting room
08:00 – 12:00 Individual patent consultations / Dr. Heiko Pittner, Zacco GmbH
Expert Lecture – Technical Sciences FS UL, Leskovar Room (1st floor)
12:30 – 13:00 Participant registration, coffee
13:00 – 13:05 Opening remarks / Prof. Dr. Franci Pušavec, Vice-Dean for Research and International Cooperation
13:05 – 13:30 Knowledge transfer at UL and management of employee inventions in the field of Technical Sciences (Tech-Sciences), with best practice examples / Urša Jerše, Head of the UL Knowledge Transfer Office
13:30 – 14:15 Lecture “Types of IP in Tech-Sciences” + Q&A / Dr. Heiko Pittner, Zacco GmbH
14:15 – 15:00 Networking, refreshments
Program: Life Sciences
Life Sciences, April 15, 2026
Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana (FFA UL), Aškerčeva cesta 7, Ljubljana
Individual Patent Consultations – Life Sciences FFA UL, 4th floor
08:00 – 12:00 Individual patent consultations / Dr. Stig Benthin, Zacco GmbH
Expert Lecture – Life Sciences FFA UL, Lecture Room P1
12:30 – 13:00 Participant registration, coffee
13:00 – 13:05 Opening remarks / FFA UL leadership
13:05 – 13:20 Knowledge transfer at UL / Urša Jerše, Head of the UL Knowledge Transfer Office
13:20 – 13:30 Management of employee inventions in the field of Life Sciences, with best practice examples / Dr. Gabriela Droga Mazovec, UL Knowledge Transfer Office
13:30 – 14:15 Lecture “Types of IP in Life-Sciences” + Q&A / Dr. Stig Benthin, Zacco GmbH
14:15 – 15:00 Networking, refreshments
Prior registration for the expert lecture and/or patent consultation is mandatory.
Inovator.UL 2026 is a program consisting of expert events and individual, specialized patent consultations, aimed at supporting the identification and protection of intellectual property and the transfer of research results into industry and the wider society.
In 2026, the Technical Sciences (Tech-Sciences) track is co-organized with the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of the University of Ljubljana, and the Life Sciences (Life-Sciences) track is co-organized with the Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Ljubljana.
