EPO President visits Angola and São Tomé and Príncipe to strengthen co-operation on innovation and patent protection

Signature of the Validation Agreement with the Republic of Angola

The visit focused on innovation, technology transfer and patent protection, while marking the signature of a validation agreement between the Republic of Angola and the European Patent Organisation.

During an official visit to Angola and São Tomé and Príncipe, EPO President António Campinos met with Angola’s Minister of Industry and Commerce, Mr Rui Miguens, Secretary of State for Industry, Mr Carlos Rodrigues, and São Tomé and Príncipe’s Prime Minister, Mr Américo d’Oliveira dos Ramos, and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms Ilza Amado Vaz, to discuss opportunities for strengthening co-operation in the fields of patents, innovation and technology transfer.

A new milestone for Angola

A key milestone of the visit was the signature on 23 June of the Agreement on the Validation of European Patents between the Government of the Republic of Angola and the European Patent Organisation. The agreement marks an important step toward strengthening the country’s innovation ecosystem and integrating it into the international patent system.

Strengthening innovation partnerships

The programme also included meetings with São Tomé and Príncipe’s Prime Minister, Mr Américo d’Oliveira dos Ramos, and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms Ilza Amado Vaz, focusing on the role of high-quality patent protection in supporting economic growth, attracting investment and fostering innovation.

The EPO delegation also met with the heads of the national intellectual property offices in both countries: Ms Ana Paula Miguel, Director General of the Angolan Institute of Industrial Property, and Mr Adérito Bonfim, Director of the National Intellectual Property and Quality Service of São Tomé and Príncipe. The mission also included a working dinner bringing together representatives of the University of São Tomé and Príncipe and other key stakeholders from the country's innovation ecosystem. The event fostered greater alignment and coordination of initiatives aimed at supporting local innovators and promoting technology transfer.

Throughout the mission, President Campinos reaffirmed the EPO’s commitment to supporting national innovation systems through capacity building, knowledge sharing and technical co-operation, highlighting the importance of strong partnerships in promoting sustainable economic development and improving access to technology. “Through this partnership, the EPO will place its expertise, tools and knowledge at Angola’s disposal, helping to strengthen local capacity, foster technology transfer and build a more dynamic innovation ecosystem that delivers tangible benefits for the economy and the well-being of the Angolan people.”

About validation agreements

Under validation agreements, inventors and businesses are provided with a simple, timely and cost-efficient way to achieve high-level protection for an invention in the validation state, based on a single European patent application and without having to file a corresponding national patent application.

In addition to making these countries’ markets more attractive to holders of European patents, validation agreements can help to attract foreign investment, facilitate technology transfer and contribute to the overall sustainability of the patent system.