Tiem Reijns

After graduating from Delft University in Chemical Engineering and Bioprocess technology in 1998, and a brief career in pharmaceutical and biotech R&D, where I saw IP from the inventor perspective, I moved into the patent profession in 2004 in the Patent Department of Unilever, a globally operating fast moving consumer goods company. This experience has taught me how to align IP strategies with broader business objectives and turn intellectual property into a competitive advantage.

Intrigued by the power of IP in a corporate environment, I have been involved in every IP business aspect. Whether it is designing an IP strategy for building a competitive advantage, analyzing IP positions for M&A deals, invalidating competitor patents in oppositions and appeal proceedings before the European Patent Office (EPO), or defending business interests in court, it is always satisfying to get the best out of a complex situation.

With two decades of experience as patent attorney, I still get excited by innovations.

Sharing experience with colleagues and exchanging ideas, is important in a niche profession. For more than fifteen years I have been involved in preparing examination papers, first for the Dutch Patent Attorney Exam and later for the legal papers of the European Qualifying Examination (EQE), and as a member of the EQE examination board, I am heavily involved in setting the standard for the profession.

I am also proud to have served as president of the Dutch Patent Institute (Orde van Octrooigemachtigden) and to currently serve as Vice-President of epi (since 2023), the Institute of Professional Representatives before the EPO. You can read more about my involvement in the EQE in my recent article for the EPI information journal: https://information.patentepi.org/issue-eqe-2026/new-eqe.html

My passion for technology doesn't stop at work. In my spare time, I enjoy working on classic cars, combining technical curiosity with a practical, hands-on approach.

I look beyond patents to help businesses achieve their goals