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Promotion

A new programme of support for external research in applied econometrics, forecasting and survey methods

This new research programme is announced in order to help the process of making capacity planning decisions at the European Patent Office (EPO). Researchers or teams of researchers, from Europe or elsewhere, are invited to submit proposals under the following five modules.

  A    Methods to survey the intentions of applicants for future numbers of patent filings.

It is intended to fund one project within each module, but this could be varied according to circumstances. The research may be carried out either independently or in cooperation with EPO experts. The time horizon for the programme is currently set to support projects of up to three years in duration.

A total sum of up to EUR 150 000 is available for the programme, to be split between phases and modules as the EPO considers appropriate. Interested researchers are invited to submit proposals for funding. Researchers may make more than one proposal. There will be an initial funded phase of one year, after which an interim report should be submitted. Funding for up to another two years will then be provided if the report demonstrates that the project is making significant headway in the desired direction.

Deliverables include the interim report after one year and also the final report where applicable.

Selection for participants to the initial phase will be made on the basis of paper copies of short project proposals to be submitted by mail. A background information document and an application form, can be found here:

• background information document
  
  
• application form

The deadline for submission of proposals is 31 October 2001.

Contact details
European Patent Office
Erhardtstrasse 27,
D-80298 Munich,
Germany

Tel: 0049 (0)89 2399 1203
Fax: 0049 (0)89 2399 2573
E-mail: co@epo.org