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THE EUROPEAN PATENT OFFICE OPENS A BUREAU IN BRUSSELS

Brussels, 8th July --The European Patent Office (EPO) today strengthened its presence in Brussels by opening a new office. The EPO marked the event by holding a reception in their new offices and releasing their new Annual Report.

The event was attended by some 70 high ranking guests - including Internal Market Commissioner Frits Bolkestein. Ingo Kober, President of the European Patent Office, spoke at the event and stated, "patents seek to protect innovation and to encourage further innovation. The creation of this new bureau is the result of the EPO's policy of increased cooperation with EU institutions, with the aim of promoting the European patent system in Europe and increasing the role of patents in the internal market".

The mission of the EPO is to support innovation, competitiveness and economic growth by granting European patents for inventions. Under the European Patent Convention (EPC), the EPO administers a centralised patent grant system on behalf of all contracting states and is a model of successful co-operation in Europe.

To demonstrate the common nature of patents in our everyday lives, the EPO points out that the average citizen makes use of some 300 patented objects or inventions (telephones, kitchenware, etc.) every day. The EPO received about 165,000 applications in 2002. Presently, the top three areas of patented inventions are:

• medical technology and pharmaceuticals
• computer related inventions
• telecommunications

The EPC forms part of the acquis communautaire and the EPO's enlargement in 2002 from 20 to 27 countries parallels the forthcoming enlargement of the EU. The EU Competitiveness Council has stated that the EPO will have the central role in the grant procedure of the forthcoming Community patent, which will exist in parallel to European patents granted under the EPC and to national patents. The new Community patent is currently expected to be available before the end of this decade.

Looking to the future, the EPO continues to improve the European patent system by further enhancing its efficiency and users' orientation. Having a strong and effective presence in Brussels will contribute to this aim.

For more information, please contact:

David Sant
European Patent Office
Brussels Liaison Bureau
dsant@epo.org
Tel: +32 2 274 15 91

or

Rainer Osterwalder
European Patent Office
Press Officer
rosterwalder@epo.org
Tel: +49 89 230 99 50 12