EPO launches new tools on fee support measures
To make the patent system more accessible to applicants, especially those who are smaller or new to the system, a new Fee Assistant makes it clearer what fees will be due at the first stages of the patent granting process at the European Patent Office (EPO). This tool also reminds applicants which fee reductions they may be eligible for. Meanwhile, the fee support scheme insights reveal how much money applicants are already saving as result of the EPO’s fee reduction schemes.
The Fee Assistant: another key tool supporting smaller applicants
The EPO is increasing its support to smaller users and new applicants by helping them better plan the costs for their patent applications. Launched today, a new online assistant explains the fees due at the first stages of the EPO’s patent granting process and includes information on the EPO’s different fee reduction schemes and discounts. The Fee Assistant complements an increasing range of EPO tools, technology platforms, reports, advice, videos and podcasts that assist scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs and inventors when using Europe’s patent system to secure value and grow their businesses.
Financial impact of fee reductions
Also launched today are new fee support scheme insights visualising the impact of the EPO's fee reduction schemes. These have delivered record savings totalling €23 million to smaller applicants since 2024, of which some €8.4 million relate to the targeted micro-entity support scheme introduced in April last year. These insights provide detailed, real-time data on the reach and effectiveness of the following five schemes across different applicant types and stages of the patent process.
- Language-related support
- Small entity appeal support
- National search support
- Translation compensation for Unitary Patent
- Micro-entity support
Updated daily, these insights can be viewed in the Fees area of the EPO website.
Fee reductions for small and micro-entities: delivering support where it’s needed most
The micro-entity support scheme offers a 30% reduction on all main fees in the patent granting process to smaller applicants such as natural persons, non-profit organisations, universities, public research organisations, as well as microenterprises with fewer than 10 staff and an annual turnover or total balance sheet worth no more than €2 million. To qualify, applicants must have filed fewer than five patent applications in the past five years. Notably, the vast majority of the EPO’s 48 000 annual applicants file only one application per year, underlining the broad relevance of the support provided. This scheme builds on a series of fee reduction measures introduced or enhanced in recent years.
These fee reductions for smaller users complement the significant savings enjoyed by all owners of recently granted European patents with unitary effect. Since its launch in June 2023, the Unitary Patent has proven remarkably popular with micro-entities, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and universities, with uptake rates exceeding 70%, far ahead of the overall uptake rate in Europe of around 40%.
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