EPO’s economic impact in Germany and the Netherlands

In the third local impact study to be commissioned by the European Patent Office (EPO) since 2009, the significant economic impact of the EPO is calculated based on local staff spending, EPO procurement and additional patent attorneys located close to the EPO’s offices.

The recent study reveals the European Patent Office’s considerable contribution to the local economies in its two host countries, Germany and the Netherlands, during the period from 2018 to 2023.

“In line with the EPO's mission to contribute to a safer, smarter and more sustainable world, we endeavour to support the region beyond adding economic value by celebrating diversity and promoting sustainability, said EPO President António Campinos of the study. “We are happy to be part of a vibrant innovation ecosystem that thrives on collaboration and creativity and delivers quality and service. Our presence is rooted in a shared commitment to progress.”

For the year 2023, total value added attributable to the EPO’s presence was calculated to amount to EUR 3.8 billion in Germany and EUR 840 million in the Netherlands. Compared to 2018, these figures represent a 31% nominal increase for Germany and a 5% increase for the Netherlands.

Of the EPO’s 6 300 employees, 3 800 work in Germany and 2 500 in the Netherlands. In Germany, EPO staff’s local consumer spending, combined with the Office’s local procurement of goods and services, generated 6 400 additional external jobs and a value added of EUR 1.3 billion in 2023. In other words, for every staff member directly employed by the EPO, 1.7 external jobs are created.

In the Netherlands, the respective figures amount to 3 700 additional external jobs, a value added of EUR 780 million and 1.5 external jobs generated for every staff member directly employed by the EPO.

The study considers both the direct and indirect economic impact of the EPO’s presence, including the impact of additional European patent attorneys with offices located close to the EPO, especially in Munich. It was completed in 2024 and follows comparable site-specific studies commissioned by the Office, covering the years 2009/2010 and 2018/2019.

Following a meeting on 12 May at the EPO’s headquarters in Munich, State-Minister Dr. Florian Herrmann, Head of the Bavarian State-Chancellery said, “The European Patent Office is much more than just an international authority – it is a powerful economic engine for Germany as a business location. The current study demonstrates the impressive contribution the EPO makes to regional value creation with its locations in Munich and Berlin. The EPO's presence is a strategic geographic advantage, in particular for Bavaria as a region of innovation."

For further details, please consult the summary of the study available on our Transparency Portal.