On December 18, 2025, RCTT's experts took part in the EU - Webinar: Patents and Trade Secrets organized by IP Helpdesk.

This webinar offers a clear and practical overview of the two most relevant IP tools for safeguarding technical knowledge: patents and trade secrets. Participants will first learn the fundamental differences between the two — what they protect, how enforceability works, and the legal and financial implications of each approach. The session then explores how to make the right strategic choice, considering factors such as technology maturity, market dynamics, collaboration settings, and dissemination plans.

The webinar addressed the following issues:

• The key differences between patents and trade secrets
• Timing rules: when to protect before publishing or presenting results 
• How to balance Open Science obligations with IP protection needs 
• Decision-making criteria to select the most suitable protection route 
• Organisational measures needed for effective trade secret management 
• How patents and trade secrets can be combined in a hybrid strategy

The presentation of the EU - Webinar: Patents and Trade Secrets can be found here

With a video of the webinar here

Additionally, have a look at some useful links:

• Submit your question to the Helpline
• European IP Helpdesk Upcoming Webinars
• European IP Helpdesk E-learning Page