Over 9 000 viewers from 68 countries join EPO User Day 2025 for the latest updates on EPO services
Screenshot of "Quality as a shared effort between the EPO and the user community" virtual panel discussion between Robert Rankin, Roberto Vacca, Angelique Iyer-Baldew, Enrica Bruno and Stephan Wolke
User Day was streamed live on 23-24 September and featured 46 speakers across 16 sessions. Designed to keep users up to date with the European Patent Office’s (EPO) high-quality products and services, the event’s popularity each year reflects its value for the user community. You can watch the event recordings by using the link below.
Keeping the focus on quality
In his introductory remarks, EPO President António Campinos highlighted the Office’s ongoing efforts to advance the full digitalisation of the patent granting process to further enhance quality and efficiency. While emphasising the importance of leveraging new technologies such as artificial intelligence, he also reminded the audience of the essential role that examiners will continue to play in this transformation: “Our high quality is the result of 50 years of constant improvement. It is the expertise of over 4 000 highly qualified and dedicated examiners, the largest patent database in the world and our early investment in cutting-edge AI tools. AI is not here to replace our expert staff though. We take a human-centric approach that keeps examiners in the driving seat.”
Speakers from all over the world, including countries such as the United States, Japan and India, participated in panel discussions with EPO experts, including on the Quality dashboard and the Quality Action Plan, which underscores quality as the shared responsibility of the EPO and the user community.
"My perspective is that quality patents become an ‘engine of innovation’ for the entire community”, said Enrica Bruno, founder and partner at S+B Intellectual Property Law. “This is built on the predictable application of the European Patent Convention's rules and guidelines."
Preparing for a paperless patent granting process
Breakout sessions focused on the latest developments in EPO digital services such as MyEPO, with Marek Bury, European Patent Attorney at Bury & Bury remarking: "We've been testing MyEPO nearly since day one. Once we started, it was clear we should use it to its fullest." Sessions also shared recent updates on Mailbox, Online Filing 2.0 and the Legal Interactive Platform.
Users were encouraged to use the full range of the EPO’s online services, as the Office aims to implement a fully digital patent granting process by 2027. They were also reminded that Online Filing 2.0 would become the standard tool for filing applications online as of January 2026, following the decommissioning of the legacy desktop-based Online Filling software (eOLF) at the end of this year.
Guiding SMEs and micro-entities to make best use of the European patent system
The programme offered specialised sessions aimed at empowering SMEs, micro-entities, universities and public research organisations. Resources were shared on fee reductions, free training and support, and how the Deep Tech Finder can help connect investors and inventors.
Panellist Angela Ivanova, co-founder and CEO of the sustainable printing and packaging manufacturer LAM'ON, said: "For startups like ours, patents are not just legal tools, they're strategic assets. Filing early gave us time to breathe, build and pitch with confidence. Not to mention that investors don't just ask what you're making, they always ask what you're protecting."
Further highlights included a panel discussion on the Unitary Patent system’s successful first years and its benefits to both large applicants and SMEs.
Partnering with all users
The event concluded with a special thanks to the audience, panellists and EPO experts for their participation. The closing session also served as a reminder that, from the largest applicants to SMEs, every user plays a key role in European innovation.
