EPO and epi Presidium meet for the annual bilateral exchange

On 6 July, the European Patent Office (EPO) hosted a delegation from the Institute of Professional Representatives before the EPO (epi) for their annual bilateral meeting to discuss recent developments and future strategic and technical co-operation. EPO President António Campinos congratulated the re-elected epi Presidium, led by epi President Peter Thomsen, on the renewal of their mandate for the 2026–2029 term.

The discussions covered the landmark achievements made over the last two years under the EPO’s Strategic Plan 2028 and epi focus and projects for the future, especially the focus on the future of the patent profession. The EPO highlighted the historic milestone of receiving over 200 000 European patent applications in a single year, which was achieved alongside a 4% expansion in overall production. This growth is actively supported by the Quality Action Plan 2026 which prioritises examiner training and human-centric AI tools. These efforts have directly translated into enhanced timeliness, with standard searches now consistently delivered at around five months on average. Both delegations underlined the importance of highest quality in PGP and epi commended EPO for its high standards and the highly developed quality assurance system.

The discussion also covered the professional qualification frameworks, noting that the Candidate Support Programme includes now three pillars, namely the geographical, gender and quality grounds, and benefits virtually all member states. In the context of the European Qualifying Examination (EQE), the introduction of three new modules in 2026 and the organisation of a record-number of 4 800 papers were signalled as fruit of intense co-operation. The two delegations emphasized the importance of EQE for securing high standards of professional representation and noted with great satisfaction the smooth transition towards a modified high-quality digital EQE. The preparations for the complete transition to the new EQE are on track and to be completed in 2027. epi and EPO are also co-operating for the successful implementation of the new modular EPAC in November 2026.

The delegations reviewed the "third basket" of legal reforms designed to streamline entry into the European phase and opposition proceedings. These changes will roll out alongside the Paperless Patent Granting Process in April 2027 and the ongoing modernisation of the professional disciplinary system. On international legal frameworks, the EPO also provided a strategic update on the substantive patent law harmonisation (SPLH) process, reviewing current progress and the outlook for European alignment on key provisions. Additionally, the EPO Observatory on Patents and Technology introduced its newly launched foresight study, mapping out plausible technology trajectories and structural shifts up to 2045.

Both institutions reaffirmed their commitment to continue working closely together.

The Global Assignment Workshop

Following the main bilateral meeting with epi, the conversation focused on a practical exchange with European user groups from epi and BusinessEurope. A dedicated hybrid workshop took place to review the Global Assignment Proof of Concept (PoC), an IP5 initiative to simplify how patent ownership is transferred internationally. It seeks to replace redundant, jurisdiction-specific filings with a standardised form and a universal digital repository.

Building upon user feedback from the recent IP5 meetings in Tokyo, the session allowed technical experts and patent professionals to examine the functionalities of the tool. Attendees explored how leveraging the existing Global Dossier solution can create a practical, secure path toward a streamlined assignment recording. The targeted feedback gathered during the workshop will directly guide technical development ahead of the IP5 meetings in Prague in 2027.