Patent granting process fully digital as of 1 April 2027
After around a decade of digital transformation in close collaboration with all stakeholders, the European Patent Office (EPO) will formally complete the transition to a fully digital patent granting process (PGP) on 1 April 2027, when digital filing and notification become mandatory. While most users have already embraced the EPO’s high-quality, intuitive and accessible digital services, targeted support will be available to those who have not yet started interacting digitally with the EPO.
Guided by the EPO’s Strategic Plan 2028, the transition to a fully digital PGP builds on sustained long-term efforts to streamline digital workflows, deepen collaboration and enhance the user experience at every stage of the process.
Together with the drive towards a fully digital administration, intensified by the global pandemic, these efforts have also helped strengthen environmental sustainability by further reducing paper consumption, while making the European patent system more accessible and user-friendly than ever before. As the Office approaches the April 2027 milestone, these investments are also contributing to productivity gains, improved operational efficiency and the EPO’s long-term financial sustainability.
The digital PGP is designed to support European competitiveness for decades to come. It has been enabled by the EPO developing a rigorous framework in co-operation with its member states and with users worldwide. This framework supports the highest standards of data protection and cybersecurity, the consistent, responsible and secure use of AI, and comprehensive legal provisions that ensure the levels of legal certainty our users expect.
Users everywhere embrace digital transformation, targeted EPO user support continues
The Administrative Council recently endorsed the legal provisions to facilitate the full transition, formalising the evolution already widely embraced by users. Over 99% of new patent applications, 97% of oppositions and 94% of third-party observations are already filed electronically, while over 80% of notifications are digital. As deployment progresses, the EPO will continue to support users with targeted measures including individual assistance, guidance and enhanced accessibility features. Further details will be published in due course.
What changes from 1 April 2027
- EPO communication becomes fully digital, with electronic notification via MyEPO Mailbox as the default method for all users.
- Electronic filing becomes mandatory for both European and PCT procedures, with paper submissions requiring electronic refiling except in limited circumstances (such as during in-person oral proceedings before the Boards of Appeal).
- Third-party observations must be filed electronically.
- User safeguards are strengthened, with updated provisions to protect users in the event of system interruptions and other exceptional circumstances.
Strong user engagement has shaped the transition throughout
Close collaboration between the EPO and its stakeholders has driven the entire transition to a fully digital PGP, ensuring that all the EPO’s high-quality products and services remain rooted in the shared expertise and experience of the broader EPO community. Users’ highly valued, constructive feedback and active involvement have helped optimise this shared journey and contributed significantly to the successful modernisation of PGP tools, platforms and data exchange mechanisms. This will in turn strengthen the European innovation ecosystem and its global competitiveness.
