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Second afternoon (19 April 2007)
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The European Patent Forum wrapped up on Thursday with European Patent Office (EPO) President Alain Pompidou delivering an upbeat outlook on the future of the European patent system.
The two-day forum and the findings of an extensive study on the future of intellectual property (IP) had “put the EPO in a position to react” to the challenges ahead, the President said.
After his closing remarks, Professor Pompidou - in a symbolic act - handed over the study, titled “Scenarios for the Future,” to his successor in office, EPO President-elect Alison Brimelow.
The study, a three-year project that looked at the different ways the patent system could evolve until 2025, served as the basis for several workshops in which the forum guests discussed how the European patent system should be shaped to prepare it for the challenges ahead.
In his closing remarks, Professor Pompidou said he was optimistic that France would ratify the London Agreement “by the end of this year.” The agreement, signed by ten nations, aims to reduce translation costs connected with the European patent granting procedure.
The two-day forum, jointly organised by the EPO and the European Commission, involved some 400 guests from the political, industrial and intellectual property (IP) realm at the EPO’s Munich headquarters. The forum guests took part in numerous discussion panels and workshops on the future of IP.
On Thursday, the EPO also hosted PATINNOVA 07, a European Commission conference aimed at raising awareness of IP rights issues with a particular focus on SMEs.
The keynote speakers at the forum included German Chancellor Angela Merkel (also the holder of the European Union presidency) and European Commission Vice-President Günter Verheugen, who both called for a rapid reform of the European patent system. They said this could be achieved by establishing a European Community patent, lowering patent costs and creating a European legal institution for patent issues.
One of the highlights of the forum was the European Inventor of the Year gala. Taking place Wednesday night at the ICM in Munich, the award ceremony – featuring several show acts – honoured outstanding inventors and their innovations. The EPO and the European Commission awarded the sail-shaped trophies to individuals and teams in four categories: Industry, SMEs/Research, Non-European Countries and Lifetime Achievement.