About the Observatory

With 50 years of expertise, the European Patent Office (EPO) receives nearly 200 000 patent applications annually. Thanks to the activities of our 4 000 experienced examiners in all fields of technology, we have built unparalleled expertise in emerging innovations.

Launched in October 2023, the EPO Observatory on Patents and Technology builds on the organisation’s expertise and networks. By launching in-depth economic and technology tools and platforms, developing patent data tools and much more, it fosters evidence-based discussions on innovation, maps trends and connects key players across the ecosystem.

The Observatory aligns its initiatives with Europe's transformation priorities, addressing key challenges and strengthening support for innovation, competitiveness and research and development. These efforts are informed by insights from Mario Draghi’s report on the future of EU competitiveness, as well as Enrico Letta’s report on the Single Market and the recent EU Competitiveness Compass.

Stakeholders

The Observatory operates on principles of transparency, inclusiveness, collaboration and subsidiarity, ensuring a rigorous, evidence-based approach.

It fosters broad participation within the innovation ecosystem, building strategic partnerships to enhance the quality and impact of its work. The Observatory works in collaboration with experts from the national patent offices (NPOs) of our 39 member states (member states of the European Patent Organisation) to develop our activities. NPOs contribute with their knowledge of national innovation ecosystems, technology expertise and networks to develop high-quality analysis and resources.

Working closely with EU institutions has enabled the Observatory to raise the level of interest in IP within innovation networks and align its research with broader European innovation policies and priorities. The observatories of the EPO and the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) have explored synergies and co-operated on economic studies to leverage their expertise. The inauguration of the EPO Observatory was marked by a study co-published by the two institutions.

The EPO Observatory is based on the principle of dynamic engagement. In other words, different stakeholders contribute to each specific topic to bring complementary expertise and a plurality of views

Who can benefit from the Observatory?

Startups and businesses 

Gain valuable insights into how to navigate the patent system, identify market opportunities, and protect innovations. The Observatory supports European startups in leveraging intellectual property to scale so they can compete globally. We actively participate in startup fairs and conferences across Europe by showcasing key projects such as the Deep Tech Finder.

Research universities and public research organisations 

Helping you to bridge the gap between academia and industry with insights into patent trends and technology transfer. Our tools aim to maximize the impact of cutting-edge research.

Policymakers

Access evidence-based analysis to shape innovation policies that drive economic growth, technological progress and Europe’s competitiveness in a fast-changing global landscape.

Collaboration with international and European organisations

The Observatory is also a collaboration hub for policymakers focusing on innovation and technology in Europe and beyond. Through the activities of the Observatory and the EPO’s Brussels office, we have built an extensive network of partners. 

Anyone interested in innovation 

Whether you're an entrepreneur, a researcher or simply curious about the future of technology, the Observatory provides insights and tools to help you keep track of the newest technologies, the role of IP in innovation, how Europe is building its competitiveness and much more.

We actively reach out to students and young innovators to ensure that the next generation is equipped with the knowledge and resources to shape the future.

Our three streams

The Observatory’s activities are structured around three main streams:

Stream 1: technology intelligence

This stream maps critical technology developments in the innovation ecosystem and recognising trends in the technologies of tomorrow. The technology studies identify which innovations will take off in the future in areas relevant to the digital and green transition, as well as in crucial fields like artificial intelligence (AI).

Stream 2: legal and innovation policy

This stream analyses patent law and data in the context of broader innovation frameworks, including the value of patenting and technology for obtaining financing, as well as policy and regulation frameworks in Europe. It also addresses hotly debated topics such as the relationship between standards and patents.

Stream 3: diversity and transformation

This stream is dedicated to improving public understanding of IP and the patent system by clearly communicating its benefits and impact on the innovation ecosystem.. We highlight the role of universities, small companies and public research organisations in the innovation ecosystem, as well as underrepresented actors like women in STEM. Reaching out to young people to foster the skills and knowledge required to get them involved in innovation is another priority.