2. Technical progress, advantageous effect 

The EPC does not require explicitly or implicitly that an invention, to be patentable, must entail some technical progress or even any useful effect. Nevertheless, an advantageous effect, if any, with respect to the state of the art should be stated in the description (Rule 42(1)(c)), as any such effect is often important in determining "inventive step" (see G‑VII, 5).