Demystifying patents for women in computing

Hello and welcome to a new ACM-WE blog post series, in partnership with the European Patent Office (EPO), through its Observatory on Patents and Technology.

This collaboration has a clear purpose: to prepare the way for change. Research consistently shows that women in STEM are significantly underrepresented among patent holders. ACM-W and the EPO have therefore joined forces to bring practical information about patenting directly to a broader community of computing professionals, researchers and educators.

If you’re reading this post and thinking “patents and computing don’t mix” – you’re not alone. Many computing professionals are unsure whether software or computer-implemented inventions can be patented at all.

We will be doing some myth-busting and explaining the patent process from the ground up: what patents are, how they work, what the patenting journey looks like, and what support is available to help you get there. No prior knowledge required. This series is about information, not advocacy – we’re here to ensure that if patenting is an option for you, then you have the information you need to succeed.

So, what is a patent?

A patent is a legal right granted for a technical invention – whether that’s a product, process, or system. For a limited period (usually up to 20 years), a patent enables the inventor to decide how the invention is used commercially, including who can make or sell it.

To be granted a patent, the inventor must file a patent application that explains how their invention works. The application is then published (usually 18 months after filing), becoming part of a vast body of publicly available technical knowledge that others can learn from and build on.

Not every idea qualifies. To be patentable, an invention must be new, involve an inventive step (meaning it isn’t obvious to someone skilled in the field), and be industrially applicable – in other words, have a practical use.

So, a patent is about a structured exchange: you disclose your invention to the public, and in return, you gain the exclusive right to decide who can use your invention and how.

Why does this matter for women in computing?

Computer technology is one of the fastest-growing areas of patenting, with nearly 18 000 filings in 2025. Women inventors are playing a key role in this growth: about 24% of European patent filings in computing include at least one woman inventor. This is close to the overall average across all sectors (26%), but still well below fields like pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, where representation of women inventors exceeds 50%.

An even bigger gap can be seen among startup founders. Though an increasing number of women contribute to patented inventions, they make up just 6% of founders of computer technology startups linked to European patents. In other words, there is a critical imbalance: participation in patenting is not translating into broader ownership or decision-making power.

Patents matter because they are closely tied to visibility, credibility, and business success. Patenting can drive not just what gets invented, but who gets to develop and commercialise those ideas.

There are further, more encouraging signs. In AI, a third of European patent applications include at least one woman inventor. This suggests that women are already playing a meaningful role in shaping the technologies that will define the future.

Another positive trend can be seen in universities and public research organisations, where the proportion of women inventors is significantly higher than in industry. For readers working in research or academia, this means your professional environment is currently one of the most supportive spaces for women engaging with patenting.

This series aims to build on that momentum by demystifying patents and helping ACM-WE members gain the knowledge needed to participate in and shape innovation.

What’s next?

In our forthcoming posts, we’ll explain the patenting process in clear and accessible terms. We’ll also share insights and advice from women patent holders working at the forefront of computing and innovation, and highlight practical resources and support available to you on your journey. Whether you’re a computing graduate just starting out, already contributing to research and development, or working in industry, this series will help you better understand patenting, and how it can support your work, your ideas, and your impact in computing.

A good place to start…

One resource is well worth bookmarking immediately. Espacenet (worldwide.espacenet.com) is the EPO’s free, publicly searchable database of over 160 million patent documents – a useful way to get a sense of what patents actually look like in your area of expertise.

These additional links provide a wealth of further information:

The EPO Observatory’s LinkedIn newsletter, The Tech Fingerprint, features recent editions on women in computing and quantum computing. Subscribe to make sure you never miss an issue!