The MPI Alumni Annual Conferences are organised in close cooperation with the Max Planck Institute for Innovation and Competition.

This event brings together alumni, researchers and friends to the Max Planck Institute for Innovation and Competition to exchange ideas, discuss current developments and strengthen the connections within our international academic community.

The year 2026 marks the 60th anniversary of the Max Planck Institute for Innovation and Competition, providing a special occasion for this year’s Annual Conference, organised in collaboration with the MPI Alumni Association.

The academic programme focused on current developments in innovation and competition, with discussions on the first three years of the Unified Patent Court and the challenges and opportunities of artificial intelligence. Particular attention was given to openness, licensing models and diversity in AI innovation, as well as their implications for competition and market access.

The conference brought together researchers, legal experts and practitioners for an exchange of perspectives and concluded with an evening reception and conference dinner at Munich’s Lenbachhaus.