EPO President marks 105 years of Serbia’s IP Office

The EPO President with Mr Vladimir Marić, Director of the Serbian IPO, and the Minister of Justice at the 105^th anniversary conference in Belgrade

On 25 November 2025, EPO President António Campinos took part in the international conference in Belgrade celebrating the 105^th anniversary of the Intellectual Property Office of the Republic of Serbia (IPO RS). 

In his opening address, President Campinos congratulated Serbia on its progress in the innovation landscape. “It’s been a transformative journey, and we have been proud to support you along the way, from becoming an EPO extension state in 2004 to a full EPO member in 2010.” He also highlighted the successful partnership between the EPO and IPO RS: “Together, our offices are moving forward – digitally connected, sharing expertise and learning from one another.”

The event brought together more than 150 participants, including the country’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy Andrijana Mesarović, and Minister of Science and Technological Development Béla Bálint. Representatives from international IP organisations and national offices throughout Europe and beyond also attended. 

Supporting innovation in Serbia and Europe

During his visit to Belgrade, President Campinos held two high-level bilateral meetings. On 24 November, he met with IPO RS Director Vladimir Marić to discuss ongoing co-operation, shared priorities and challenges in supporting innovation in Serbia and Europe. The discussions highlighted excellent collaboration at the governing level and the active participation of IPO RS under Mr Marić’s leadership in EPO initiatives. Particular attention was given to the involvement of IPO RS in the EPO’s technology transfer and commercialisation initiatives, carried out under the auspices of the EPO Observatory and the PATLIB network.

The following day, the President and Mr Marić met with the Serbian Minister of Justice Nenad Vujić at the National Assembly. The topics discussed included the Minister’s activities in the development and implementation of digital solutions within the judiciary. In this context, the EPO’s Legal Interactive Platform was presented as an AI-powered tool for searching legal texts, case law and procedural guidelines. Discussions on leveraging the synergies between these initiatives are expected to continue in the future.

The event underscored the strong partnership between the EPO and Serbia, and reaffirmed their shared commitment to fostering a sustainable, knowledge-driven future through intellectual property.