EPO meets with the German Association of Industry IP Experts

EPO Vice-President Christoph Ernst and VPP President Peter Berg with their respective delegations

On 25 March, the European Patent Office (EPO) hosted a delegation from the German Association of Industry IP Experts (VPP) at its headquarters in Munich to discuss shared priorities and explore future opportunities for enhanced collaboration.

Vice-President Legal and International Affairs Christoph Ernst headed the EPO delegation that welcomed VPP representatives from Siemens, BASF and Infineon, together with the association’s new President, Peter Berg. The visit provided an opportunity to discuss key developments in the European patent system and align views on how to further strengthen support for a sustainable innovation ecosystem.

Fostering technology transfer, empowering startups and encouraging economic growth

VPP delegates highlighted the importance of bringing all patent system users to the table to jointly pursue an approach to innovation that fosters technology transfer, empowers startups, supports overall technological advancement and encourages economic growth. Acknowledging the various efforts undertaken by the EPO in this regard, VPP supports the conceptualisation of a national IP strategy for Germany and underlined the relevance of EPO studies and of tools like the EPO Observatory’s Deep Tech Finder and the Patent Standards explorer, which can generate data and insights that inform strategy.

Unitary Patent system

As recently confirmed by the EPO Technology Dashboard, the system continues to gain momentum, particularly among Europe’s smaller businesses. In 2025, 26% of requests for unitary effect originating in Europe came from individual inventors or SMEs, with an additional 7% from universities and public research organisations (PROs). This highlights the system’s role as a springboard for smaller entities to scale their inventions, further strengthened by fee reductions for micro-entities, individuals, non-profits, universities and PROs. While VPP recognised the added value of the system in principle, they felt that it was important to also consider the specific interests of the German industry.

Human-centric approach to leveraging AI

While the EPO Technology Dashboard 2025 also revealed last year’s strong growth in patent applications related to AI and quantum computing, AI is being integrated into daily operations at both the EPO and industry IP departments. The delegations agreed that AI is increasingly integral to further enhancing the quality and efficiency of the patent granting process and online user services. They also agreed on the importance of a human-centric approach to AI, regarding which VPP representatives commended the EPO on the adoption last year of its AI policy. The policy provides a clear framework for the responsible implementation and use of AI.

Targeted quality actions for a high-quality, accessible European patent system

Integrating AI into the EPO’s core tools to further improve efficiency, consistency and quality is just one element of the EPO’s Quality Action Plan 2026. Other measures to reinforce our commitment to excellence include continuous investment in staff and the powerful EPO tools that support examiners in delivering high-quality, timely products and services.

In this context, VPP was pleased to learn that the recently introduced Industry Lecture series will be expanded and complemented by the launch of a new initiative, the Science and Technology Forums, ensuring that EPO examiners remain at the forefront of technological progress. The Forums will strengthen connections between the patent granting process, science and the innovation ecosystem, with renowned keynote speakers presenting recent scientific developments and their societal impacts, linking advances in research directly to the EPO’s core work.

Looking ahead, both the EPO and the VPP are committed to joining forces to enhance the accessibility of the patent system for all, ensuring that innovation flourishes. 

Video interview with VPP President Peter Berg

More on VPP

Founded in 1950, the German Association of Industry Intellectual Property Experts (VPP) is an association for intellectual property professionals across a range of industries. It represents the interest of 2 900 patent professionals from both industry and private practice within the DACH region (Germany, Austria and Switzerland). 

In a video interview with the EPO, VPP President Peter Berg shares further insights into VPP’s mission and its vision for the future of the patent system.

VPP also forms part of FEMIPI, the European professional umbrella organisation uniting eleven national member associations from the EPO’s Member States including the IP Federation (UK), ASPIE (FR), ORDE (NL) and VIPS/ACBIS (CH), with whom the EPO also engages regularly in various fora.