Celebrating International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2026, we interview Mona Jahani, IP specialist at Royalty Administration International C. V. in the Netherlands to learn more about her journey from biotechnology to intellectual property.
Tell us about your professional background and your move into IP.
My background is in life sciences, with a focus on molecular biology and biotechnology. I began my career in academic research, and over the past ten years, I have worked on multiple European research projects across different laboratories and countries within the EU, gaining extensive experience in international collaboration, interdisciplinary research, and innovation-driven environments. My work focused on applied biological challenges with direct relevance to agriculture and crop protection.
A defining moment in my career was my involvement in securing a patent for an innovative pest control technique at Ghent University (UGent), prior to my transition from academia to industry. This first-hand exposure to the patenting process sparked my interest in intellectual property and the strategic role patents play in translating scientific innovation into real-world solutions.
Following my move into industry, my work increasingly intersected with innovation management and commercialisation. To deepen my legal expertise, I pursued a Master’s degree in Intellectual Property and ICT Law at KU Leuven, followed by advanced training in IP and New Technologies at Jagiellonian University. This combination of academic legal education and hands-on drafting experience firmly anchored my transition into the intellectual property sector.
How does your science expertise play a part in your career as an IP attorney?
Science is central to my work in patent law. My technical background enables me to understand complex inventions in the life sciences, communicate effectively with inventors, and translate scientific concepts into clear, precise, and robust patent applications.
It also allows me to critically assess patentability requirements, including novelty and inventive step, and to develop effective prosecution and enforcement strategies. Most importantly, my scientific training helps me bridge the gap between R&D teams and legal professionals, ensuring that innovation is protected accurately, clearly, and strategically.
What motivated you to move into patent law?
My motivation began with my direct involvement in obtaining a patent for an innovative pest control technique at UGent, prior to transitioning from academia to industry. This experience showed me how essential intellectual property is in enabling scientific ideas to reach the market and generate real impact.
Later, through industry experience and formal training in patent drafting with WIPO and FICPI, I gained deeper insight into the legal, regulatory, and commercial dimensions of innovation. Together, these experiences made patent law a natural and highly motivating career path.
How do you find the culture of working in a law firm compared to working in science?
Scientific environments are typically collaborative, curiosity-driven, and focused on long-term discovery, whereas law firms operate in a faster-paced, deadline-driven, and client-oriented environment, where efficiency, precision, and commercial awareness are essential. While the pressure is higher, I find the dynamic nature of legal practice stimulating and rewarding, particularly because of its direct real-world impact.
In academic science, I encountered structural challenges such as limited job security, intense competition for funding, and restricted career progression, which often make long-term career planning difficult, even for highly capable researchers. In contrast, law firms, although demanding, generally offer more structured and transparent career pathways, supported by formal training and mentoring. This provides greater professional clarity, stability, and long-term perspective.
There is also a notable difference in remuneration, with intellectual property law typically offering higher and more stable compensation than scientific research, particularly in academia. This reflects the commercial value and strategic importance of IP expertise in modern innovation-driven economies. Although financial considerations were not my primary motivation, the professional stability and recognition associated with IP careers contribute to long-term satisfaction and motivation.
Anything else of interest to FICPI members and the IP community?
I have had the privilege of participating in two outstanding international training programmes focused on European patent law and professional patent drafting, both shaped by collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and high-level instruction, with strong contributions from FICPI members.
These include the CEIPI Summer School on the Patent System in Europe, where I had the opportunity to learn from Didier Intès, and the International Patent Drafting Training Program (IPDTP) organised by WIPO and FICPI, where Eric Le Forestier served as an instructor. Both experiences were deeply enriching, professionally transformative, and highly motivating, providing not only advanced technical knowledge but also valuable international perspectives and lasting professional connections. I would highly recommend these programmes to anyone seeking to build or deepen a career in intellectual property. I hope to join FICPI in due course.
Next steps:
- Explore opportunities to engage with FICPI’s committees and work groups, covering areas from practice management to international patent matters. Active participation offers a valuable platform to exchange expertise, expand professional networks, and contribute to shaping best practices and future developments in the global IP profession.
- This interview is an initiative from FICPI’s DEIA Committee, click to find out more and get involved.
- Attend our FICPI and FICPI-Türkiye one-day seminar in Istanbul (20 April), bookings now open.
- Join us at the FICPI Open Forum in Budapest (16-19 September), pre-register now.
Both the seminar and Open Forum are open to any interested party in the IP profession.
- UN International Day of Women and Girls in Science. Celebrated on 11 February, 2026 marks the 11th anniversary of the International Day of Women and Girls in Science (IDWGS) and the 31st anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, two significant milestones in the global effort to promote gender equality and women's empowerment. This year’s theme for IDWSG is “Synergizing AI, Social Science, STEM and Finance: Building Inclusive Futures for Women and Girls.”