High-level Lithuanian delegation led by Chancellor Balčytytė visits EPO
EPO President António Campinos and Chancellor Giedrė Balčytytė, with their delegations
On 16 September 2024, Giedrė Balčytytė, Chancellor of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania, visited the headquarters of the European Patent Office (EPO) in Munich to discuss the role that evidence-based policies and data-driven initiatives play in driving sustainable, inclusive innovation. The Chancellor was accompanied by the country's Vice-Minister of Justice Jurga Greičienė, Advisor to the Prime Minister Rimantas Žylius and Head of the Government Legal Department Deividas Kriaučiūnas. The visit of the high-level delegation follows the productive dialogue initiated during the 18th Annual Meeting with Member States in Vilnius earlier this year.
During her visit, Chancellor Balčytytė explored the EPO’s efforts in utilising patent data to drive technological advancements and achieve a positive societal impact. EPO President António Campinos emphasised the EPO's role as a global leader in collecting, managing and presenting patent data, including with the integrated use of AI-driven analytical tools, to help users identify technology trends as they emerge. He explained how improving access to this data will enable more people, including the inventors, scientists and researchers on the frontline of innovation, to use patent knowledge to build further on existing solutions and embark on new forms of collaboration.
Informed decision-making for a more sustainable future
The Chancellor was introduced to several key projects, including the Observatory on Patents and Technology, which serves as a digital hub for informed decision-making and public discussion on innovation. The Deep Tech Finder, which blends patent information with business intelligence on investment-ready startups, helps investors identify some of Europe's most promising tech companies based on their patent portfolios and business success. This is one of the latest in the Office's series of smart, data-driven platforms and now covers areas ranging from cancer-combatting technologies to the latest advancements in the water sector and in space technologies.
The meeting also touched upon Lithuania's innovation ecosystem and how the country is pioneering the use of data and AI to drive decision-making processes and measure the impact of public policies. The Chancellor’s visit underscores the strong ties between Lithuania and the EPO and the potential for further collaboration, highlighting shared commitments to promoting innovation and leveraging data for achieving global progress towards a more sustainable future.