René Raggers

European patent attorney | Partner | UPC representative

It wasn’t his studies in Biology/Biotechnology at the University of Groningen and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich (ETH) that led René Raggers to dedicate himself to supporting inventors in protecting their inventions. Nor was his PhD in cell biology cancer research at the University of Amsterdam more than a stepping stone to his current role. Only when he began working as a medical advisor and product developer in the food industry at Nutricia (now Danone) did he, through a patent attorney, first encounter the world of patents. Since 2005, he has been active in the patent field.

"I have a scientific background in cancer research and am pleased to contribute to that now as a patent attorney. But with equal enthusiasm, I work on DNA, plants, nutrition, medicines, biologicals, and microorganisms. I pride myself on having and developing a deep technical knowledge in the field I work in. Without knowing the technical details in depth, you won’t get anywhere. It’s also important not to lose sight of the bigger picture. When you zoom in closely on something, you can forget why you were focusing on it in the first place. Zooming out is crucial to remember why you’re working on the details."

It’s primarily the scientific drive that makes the work interesting for René. "One of the great things I find is that in this country, there is an incredible amount of high-quality research conducted to combat cancer and other diseases. I am, above all, a (cell) biologist, a scientist, and it moves me when I’m involved in a development that so much hard work has gone into. In the nearly twenty years I’ve been part of this field, I’ve seen it change. Improve. That drives me. I prefer going to the companies and knowledge institutes myself. It makes the relationship stronger. Moreover, ideas are exchanged more freely when people are in their own environment."

What René appreciates about AOMB is the possibility for tailored solutions. "We can think along with our clients to make things happen. Smaller companies can also have big plans. The fact that they’re small doesn’t mean they deserve less attention than larger companies. We can empathize with the situation they’re in and work together to make things possible."

Since 2012, René has been listed annually in the IAM Patent 1000 – World’s Leading Patent Practitioners. The organization writes on its website, "René Raggers sets the tone with his warm demeanor and clear enthusiasm for his clients and their inventions. The expert in biochemistry, genetics, and nutrition and health is recognized by colleagues for his meticulous attention to detail and goal-oriented nature."

It’s no surprise that the biologist enjoys spending his free time in nature. But that’s not the only thing that excites the patent attorney who lives along the canals in Delft. "I also enjoy listening to experimental music. I notice that I feel happy when something pleasantly surprises me, makes me think. The same goes for theater and art. Long ago, I attended a nearly three-hour Henrik Ibsen play in a dark space under a slope. The fact that I’m still talking about it today shows the impression it left on me."