EPO presence in Germany contributes significantly to the local economy
- Total added value of EUR 3.8 billion attributed to the EPO’s presence in Munich and Berlin
Munich, 22 May 2025 – A recent study commissioned by the European Patent Office (EPO) and conducted in 2024 reveals the EPO’s significant contribution to the local economy. The Local Impact Study shows that for the year 2023, total value added attributable to the EPO’s presence in Germany was calculated to amount to EUR 3.8 billion.
The EPO is headquartered in Munich and has further offices in Berlin, The Hague, Vienna and Brussels. Of the EPO’s 6 300 employees, 3 800 work in Germany. Their local consumer spending, combined with the Office’s local procurement of goods and services, was calculated to have generated 6 400 additional external jobs and added value of EUR 1.3 billion in 2023. Compared to 2018, these figures represent a 31% nominal increase.
Further, the study shows that due to the EPO’s presence in Germany, around 3 500 additional patent attorneys were estimated to work in close proximity to EPO sites in 2023, principally in Munich, assisted by around 7 000 support staff overall. Together, these members of the patent profession were calculated to generate a further 15 500 jobs. This amounts to a grand total of 26 000 further external jobs that can be attributed to the EPO’s presence in the country, creating added value of some EUR 2.5 billion. The sum of this added value and that created by local EPO staff spending and local EPO procurement provides the overall figure of EUR 3.8 billion.
“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. We are proud to grow alongside this region and contribute to its continued success,” said EPO President António Campinos. "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”.
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About the EPO
With 6 300 staff members , the European Patent Office (EPO) is one of the largest public service institutions in Europe. Headquartered in Munich with offices in Berlin, Brussels, The Hague and Vienna, the EPO was founded with the aim of strengthening co-operation on patents in Europe. Through the EPO's centralised patent granting procedure, inventors are able to obtain high-quality patent protection in up to 45 countries, covering a market of some 700 million people. The EPO is also the world's leading authority in patent information and patent searching.