'As a chemist, I was really excited when I discovered a new molecule. It is the same now when I hear about companies' innovations."
Valeria De Matteis has been working as a patent attorney at Ipecunia since 1 March 2022. This means she is also part of the EP&C team. She studied chemistry at the University of Bologna and then worked as a PhD and post-doc researcher for a while, before switching to the world of patents about 12 years ago. She gained experience with intellectual property at Synthon B.V. and Synthon Biopharmaceuticals B.V. Originally from Italy, Valeria has a nice combination of the modest Italian style of communication and Dutch tenacity.
In her work, Valeria sees a similarity between her love for molecules and that of her profession as a patent attorney. "I love molecules, they are the essence of life. I really wanted to become a researcher because I wanted to think outside the box. And I still do that as a patent attorney. Looking at a situation from all angles is also very much part of my job today."
Gaining new knowledge is key for Valeria. "As a chemist, I was really excited when I discovered a new molecule. It is the same now when I hear about companies' innovations. I am curious about the ideas and enjoy using my brain to take society to a higher level. Because that's what innovations do."
Valeria's scientific background is a strong foundation for her job as a patent attorney. "If you really want to understand and write a patent well, you need to have a very detailed way of looking at things. It is a skill I developed through my experience as a PhD and post-doc researcher. This combined with my knowledge of the legal side of things puts me in a good position to help companies. I know how they think and what knowledge they lack. Inventors often feel that what they have come up with is very logical, but usually it isn’t. It's nice to be able to get them to see this and to help them protect their innovation."
