Dr Christian Wende on European IP Strategy, Medtech Patents & the UPC

Neural Implant podcast - the people behind Brain-Machine Interface revolutions

In this episode, we dive into the world of European intellectual property and medtech innovation with Dr. Christian Wende, a German and European Patent Attorney specializing in medical technology at DTS. With a background in mechanical engineering, a Ph.D. in liver dialysis research, and a Master of Laws in European IP law, Christian brings a rare and powerful combination of technical, legal, and clinical insight.

We explore how startups and investors should think about IP strategy in Europe, the impact of the new Unified Patent Court (UPC), the nuances between U.S. and EU patent landscapes, and how IP due diligence is handled during VC rounds and M&A activity. Whether you're a founder, investor, or innovator in medtech or neurotech, this episode is packed with actionable insights.

This episode is sponsored by Black Swan IP – patent strategy and legal support for neurotech innovators. Learn more at www.blackswan-ip.com/

Top 3 Takeaways:

• When looking for a good IP lawyer, don’t try to search blindly—ask founders who’ve successfully done it before. You’ll often hear the same trusted names. And even if those lawyers are conflicted, they’ll usually refer you to a trusted colleague. The IP community is small and highly referral-driven.
• Becoming a qualified German and European patent attorney is a long and rigorous journey—often taking over 14 years. It includes a PhD, a three-year legal apprenticeship, two bar exams (German and European), and additional certification for the Unified Patent Court. Only about 25% of German candidates pass the European exam on their first try.
• Investors expect transparency and a plan—especially when IP litigation risk is involved. Hiding potential legal issues is a red flag that can derail multimillion-dollar investments, particularly in later-stage rounds. For high-stakes backers, surprise IP battles are deal-breakers, not details.

1:30 What is a patent and how is it different in Europe vs the US?

3:30 How far in advance should you be thinking about European patents?

8:15 How did you get into patent law?

10:00 What kind of education is necessary for this?

14:30 What was your role in the Sapiens DBS IP portfolio?

17:15 Sponsorship by blackswan-ip

17:45 What are common issues especially in Merger and Acquisition deals?

27:15 What is one of the biggest mistakes you see neurotech companies do?

30:00 How do you recognize good legal counsel?

32:30 How do your Japanese roots fit into everything?

36:00 Are you knowledgable about the Asian side of medtech?

38:00 Is there anything that we didn't talk about that you wanted to mention?