EPO meets with European Parliament’s Committee on Legal Affairs

EPO President António Campinos and JURI Chair Ilhan Kyuchyuk with their respective delegations

On 15-16 September EPO President António Campinos welcomed at the European Patent Office’s headquarters in Munich a delegation of MEPs from the European Parliament’s Committee on Legal Affairs (JURI). The visit provided an opportunity to present the EPO’s activities, strategic priorities and contribution to the European innovation landscape, while also underscoring the critical importance of close collaboration between the European Parliament and the EPO in strengthening Europe's competitiveness and innovation capacity, as well as advancing other shared objectives.

During the visit, the President reflected on the EPO’s history, from its founding to its current role as a global office. He emphasised the importance of partnerships – specifically with the EU institutions – in expanding the EPO’s reach and impact. The discussion highlighted ongoing digital transformation, including the integration of artificial intelligence to enhance the efficiency and quality of the patent grant process. The President also underscored the EPO’s strategic role in high-tech sectors, using its expertise, extensive patent data, and business intelligence tools to support the innovation process, while highlighting initiatives to include underrepresented groups in building a more inclusive and resilient innovation ecosystem.

Looking ahead, the discussion focused on tackling challenges such as reducing fragmentation in Europe’s innovation landscape and the single market, thereby helping startups to scale, with the Observatory on Patents and Technology highlighted as a key platform to driving joint solutions. “Europe is a dream built over generations; but dreams only endure when they are backed by solid action. With the clarity provided by Draghi and Letta, we have a chance to invest boldly in technology. Investment that must be guided by intelligence and shaped by our institutions working together,” President Campinos noted.

Showcasing the EPO’s activities

The MEPs were provided with an in-depth look into the core business of the Office through an overview of a typical day in the life of a patent examiner. The session also highlighted the Office’s partnerships and cooperation agreements with international and regional organisations in support of the European Commission’s innovation agenda.

Presentations highlighted key areas where EPO expertise and resources can support European initiatives in technology and innovation. This included a presentation on the EPO’s role in supporting the EU in strategically important areas, for instance contributing to legislative discussions or providing data and insights in policy areas where the EU can benefit from the EPO’s expertise. Discussions emphasised how patent intelligence can pinpoint the most promising technologies for strategic investment, with special attention to the EPO’s contributions to the Horizon Europe research programme.

Focus on the Unitary Patent and SMEs

The JURI committee has played a key role in the legislative developments leading to the Unitary Patent for over fifteen years. They were therefore pleased to receive a presentation on the Unitary Patent system (in operation since June 2023), noting its successful uptake, particularly among innovative small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Furthermore, the European parliamentary delegation was interested to learn about other ways in which the EPO is helping more startups and SMEs engage with Europe’s patent system, e.g. through targeted fee reductions, as well as tools and studies coming from the Observatory on Patents and Technology.

Additionally, the JURI members visited the Court of First Instance of the Unified Patent Court.

More on the JURI Committee

The members of the JURI Committee oversee and monitor the application of Union law, making recommendations for its simplification and thereby contributing to better law-making. They are also responsible for a number of Union acts which affect the Member States’ legal order, including in the field of intellectual property law.