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The European Patent Office is an asset for the Dutch economy

The Hague, 4 May 2005 - The European Patent Office's branch at The Hague has developed into a central pillar of the innovation process in Europe. With its staff of 2650 employees the EPO's site in The Netherlands is largely responsible for the grant of European patents in all fields in technology. "This is a key task for the creation of economic value and the knowledge-based economy in Europe", the new Site Manager of the EPO at The Hague, Thomas Hammer, said at a meeting with the press. Every year the EPO receives up to 180 000 patent applications. With its total workforce of more than 6000 highly qualified staff coming from the 30 member states of the European Patent Organisation the EPO is the second-largest European institution after European Commission. Its other sites are Munich, where the headquarters are located, Berlin and Vienna.

The Office's activities have significantly developed in the past years. Serving at first as the EPO's specialised centre for carrying out patent searches and maintaining the Office's very comprehensive documentation, the activities of The Hague branch have developed and now also cover further steps in the patent granting procedure: "This is a thriving, multi-tasking and multi-faceted enterprise with a very demanding mission", Mr Hammer explained. "By granting patents the EPO brings legal certainty to the innovation process. In that respect, our work is very close to tasks performed by other institutions located in the 'capital of law'".

Before his appointment as the EPO's new Vice President of Directorate General Operations Mr Hammer had a distinguished career in the German Patent and Trademark Office, where he last held the position of Vice President. In his double function he not only manages the EPO's site in The Netherlands, but also the 3 500 patent examiners working in Munich, The Hague and Berlin.

As the largest international organisation located in The Netherlands, the EPO is well integrated in the national and regional business life: "The European Patent Office's operations and investments at The Hague significantly contribute to the Dutch economy, especially the province of Zuid-Holland", Mr Hammer explained. "For every 266 Euros spent in Zuid-Holland, 1 comes from the EPO."

In 2004 the EPO's expenditure on operations, including all staff costs, goods and services and capital expenditure, was EUR 355 m, and on investment 300 m. With the further development of business for the site at The Hague, the economic impact is expected to grow and to expand to other areas such as operation of patent attorneys and even hotels.

Mr Hammer also stressed that the EPO is entirely self-financed and does not receive any public funding. The Office also has its own systems for social security and healthcare.

With regard to the problems that have arisen between the Office and the Dutch authorities over questions of identification and registration of EPO officials, their partners and relatives Mr Hammer reiterated the statement of EPO-President Alain Pompidou that the Office was "committed to the future of our branch at The Hague as an integral, essential part of the European Patent Organisation. It is our intention to find a solution which is beneficial to the European patent system, its quality and stability." He stated that negotiations between both parties are currently taking place in a constructive atmosphere and that a Memorandum of Understanding is under preparation. However, he added, a meeting with other international organisations showed that the EPO is not alone with its concerns about the problems its employees are experiencing: "There are a number of common issues for all organisations that need to be resolved."

For more information please contact:

European Patent Office
Press Desk
80298 Munich/Germany

Tel.: +4989/2399-5011/-5018
press@epo.org