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Central role of the EPO confirmed at Berlin patent conference
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EPO President Alain Pompidou took part in the Bundesverband der Deutschen Industrie (BDI)'s and German Federal Ministry of Justice's "Conference on patent protection" in Berlin on 29 and 30 March. Titled "Innovative Europe - ready for the future?", the conference discussed the role that patents play in promoting innovation and competition in Europe.
On day 1, BDI President Jürgen Thumann warned that Europe urgently needs a more efficient patent system with high quality protection for new technologies.
EU Commissioner Charlie McCreevy presented his strategy paper on how to move forward on the Community patent. In his opinion, the European Patent Litigation Agreement (EPLA) would be an important step towards stronger harmonisation of the Europe's patent systems. "But it will take time and a lot of diplomatic efforts", the Commissioner added.
Professor Pompidou addressed the conference in a half-hour speech on the second morning, telling participants about "The role of the European Patent Office in European Patent Policy".
"The patent system is a central tool for the revival of the Lisbon agenda, because patents foster innovation, technology transfer and knowledge circulation. That is why the policy role of the EPO has to be seen within the wider framework of the European innovation policy," he said.
Alison Brimelow, who is due to take over as President of the EPO in summer, also attended the conference, taking part in a panel discussion titled "European patent law - fit for global competition?".
Germany has made IP protection and innovation one of the top priorities of its EU presidency in the first half of 2007. Chancellor Angela Merkel will be one of the speakers at the European Patent Forum, which is due to take place at the EPO's headquarters in Munich later this month.
Speaking at the conference, President Pompidou said he "deeply appreciates" the commitment of the Germany presidency "to strengthening patent policy in Europe".