Startup guide
The EPO supports inventors, startups, and university researchers by granting high-quality patents. But we do so much more for innovators! Our free Deep Tech Finder connects potential investors with over 8 400 investment-ready European startups with EPO patent applications. Our public patent database Espacenet has over 150 million technical documents to help with R&D and to find partners, licensees and investors. We administer the new Unitary Patent system that is reducing costs and complexity for protecting inventions in Europe.
Are you new to patents?
Do you wonder if a patent help your business, but don’t know where to start? What lies ahead? Are you even ready?
Patents, trade marks and startup finance
Startups with pan-European patents and trade marks are up to 10 times more likely to attract investments.
Fee reductions for small entities
Patenting is getting cheaper. We just introduced 30% reductions on patent application fees.
Unitary Patent & Unified Patent Court
The new Unitary Patent is making it easy and cheaper to protection inventions more widely across Europe.
Searching for patents
Free patent information provides insights into the latest technologies and helps you find new partners, suppliers and customers.
Explore deep tech in Europe
Find investment-ready European Deep Tech startups; inspect their patent portfolio and funding history; or find an investor.
Digital technologies and patents
Are inventions that run in software patentable? What about inventions using artificial intelligence?
Technology platforms
EPO examiners share their vast know-how, writing ready-made expert searches that run in our free database.
"Talk innovation" podcast
Listen to innovators in science and engineering, startups, technology transfer experts, economists and patent attorneys
Observatory on Patents and Technology
Want to know more about the future of innovation? Learn more about the many different stakeholders and join the debate!