In memory of Alain Pompidou
It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Alain Pompidou (1942–2024), the fourth President of the European Patent Office, who served from 1 July 2004 to 30 June 2007. Today, the EPO will fly the European Patent Organisation flag at half-mast in Munich and The Hague.
During his term as President, Alain Pompidou strove to make the EPO stand out as a model international public-service organisation that fosters innovation and competitiveness in Europe and globally. He also understood that for technical know-how to have an impact, awareness of the patent system needed to be raised, including through education.
In 2004, Mr Pompidou established the EPO’s European Patent Academy to improve intellectual property training and education structures in Europe. This was an important step towards making the patent system more accessible and harmonising practice across Europe by training IP professionals, from judges to civil servants and patent attorneys. Today, the European Patent Academy continues to play a fundamental role in disseminating knowledge of IP and the patent system, as well as improving access to the system for underrepresented groups.
Mr Pompidou recognised the great potential of harmonising practices between patent and IP offices worldwide to deliver high-quality services to users. In 2007, he oversaw the creation of the IP5, which united the patent offices of Europe, Japan, Korea, China and the United States, transcending geopolitics in the pursuit of technical co-operation. This historic alliance created a global forum for exchanges among the international professional community that processes around 90% of the world’s patent applications. The IP5 co-operation remains a cornerstone of international collaboration in intellectual property to this day.
In addition to his vision for international co-operation, Mr Pompidou understood that inspiring the wider public, particularly the younger generation, required innovative communication strategies. To this end, he initiated the first European Inventor Award in 2006, an event that has since attracted global audiences and showcased the EPO's commitment to promoting innovation across Europe and around the world.
All of us at the European Patent Office extend our heartfelt condolences to Mr Pompidou’s family and friends.