EPO hosts bilateral meeting with KPAA
Vice-President Christoph Ernst and KPAA President Dookyu Kim with their respective delegations
EPO’s Vice-President hosted a delegation led by the KPAA President at the EPO’s headquarters in Munich.
On 29 September, the EPO welcomed a delegation from the Korean Patent Attorneys Association (KPAA) to its headquarters in Munich. The exchanges built on the previous meeting held in 2023 and is part of the EPO’s ongoing dialogue with user associations in key innovation markets.
EPO Vice-President for Legal and International Affairs Christoph Ernst opened the meeting, saying: “It’s a pleasure to welcome the KPAA back to the EPO. The increasing use of the Unitary Patent by Korean applicants shows that the system is gaining traction beyond Europe and confirms its growing strategic value.”
The KPAA provided an update on recent IP developments in the Republic of Korea and shared their experiences of the EPO’s services. KPAA President Dookyu Kim stated: “We value the open dialogue with the EPO. The growing interest in the Unitary Patent shows that Korean applicants are increasingly looking to Europe. We look forward to continued co-operation.”
Unitary Patent uptake: the R. Korea ahead of other major non-European markets
In 2024, Korean applicants requested unitary effect in 18.9% of eligible cases – nearly double the rate in 2023 – with Samsung among the top three requesters worldwide. This puts users from the R. Korea ahead of other major non-European markets such as China and the US. The trend continues in 2025, with a current uptake rate of 20.2%.
Continuously improving our high-quality products and services
The EPO presented its Quality Action Plan 2025 and outlined recent improvements in search and examination, including those linked to Active Search Divisions, harmonised practices, new tools and training for examiners. Meanwhile, in 2024, 85.1% of standard search reports were dispatched to applicants on time, and 81.9% of standard files were processed within the target timeline.
Technology trends and outlook
The EPO also presented its Observatory on Patents and Technology, which provides data-driven insights into innovation trends. Current projects focus on advancements in areas such as innovation financing, sustainability, health and quantum technologies.
The meeting concluded with participants expressing a shared interest in continuing dialogue and exploring the scope for further collaboration in 2026.