As Europe faces yet another sweltering summer and records topple under the weight of a relentless heatwave, conversations about climate change are once again front and centre. While extreme weather disrupts daily life, it also presents an opportunity to spur innovation, much of it protected and driven by intellectual property (IP). From heat-resistant materials to sustainable cooling systems, summer has become a surprising catalyst for technological advancement.
When the heat rises, Innovation responds
Climate change is no longer a distant problem. In 2025 alone, parts of Spain, Italy, and Greece experienced temperatures exceeding 40°C, prompting states of emergency and forcing businesses to rethink everything from work hours to product design. In response, inventors and creators are developing new technologies to help us adapt.
Solar-powered air conditioners, water-saving irrigation systems, breathable, sustainable textiles, and heat-mitigating urban designs are just a few examples of climate-resilient innovation. Each of these advancements may be eligible for patent protection, industrial design registration, or trade secret status, depending on how they are created and commercialized.
How summer trends are driving IP Strategy
In the world of fashion and textiles, brands are racing to develop lightweight, UV-resistant fabrics that also meet sustainability standards. Textile patents and design rights have seen a notable rise in registration during and after major summer events.
In the agricultural field, as crops suffer under heat stress, climate-smart agriculture is on the rise. Startups are filing patents for heat-tolerant plant varieties, drone-based monitoring systems and AI-powered irrigation technology.
With energy-hungry air conditioning systems under scrutiny, innovators are developing low-emission, solar-integrated or passive cooling alternatives. These systems, particularly those with international market potential, are often protected under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), allowing inventors to seek protection in multiple countries through a single application.
The Global IP framework is keeping up
Agencies like WIPO have recognized the surge in climate-driven innovation. Through fast-track examination programs like WIPO GREEN, inventors with climate solutions can accelerate their IP protection. This ensures that groundbreaking inventions don’t get lost in a bureaucratic bottleneck and can reach markets in time to make an impact.
Final thoughts
Summer brings with it not just heat, but urgency. Climate change is real but so is the human capacity to innovate. Intellectual property laws provide the framework to support, reward and scale the solutions that can help us adapt.
As the mercury rises, so too must our commitment to protecting the innovations that will shape a sustainable future
