EPO Conferences with European Parliament's Committee on Law Matters
The European Commission welcomed a delegation of Members of the European Parliament's Committee on Legal Affairs (JURI) on September 15-16, 2023, at its headquarters in Munich. The visit aimed to showcase the EPO's activities, strategic priorities, and contribution to the European innovation landscape.
Leading the JURI delegation was Petra Bayr from Austria, the head of the Committee on Legal Affairs and the Constitution of the European Union. The visit to the EPO followed a previous one to the Court of First Instance of the Unified Patent Court.
The Unitary Patent system, which commenced operation in June 2023, was a key topic of discussion. The delegation expressed interest in understanding how the EPO is helping more startups and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) engage with Europe's patent system.
During the visit, the EPO's core business was showcased through an overview of a typical day in the life of a patent examiner. The role of the EPO in supporting the EU in strategically important areas, such as contributing to legislative discussions or providing data and insights in policy areas, was also emphasized.
The President of the EPO, António Campinos, underscored the EPO's strategic role in high-tech sectors and initiatives to include underrepresented groups in building a more inclusive and resilient innovation ecosystem. The discussions also focused on tackling challenges such as reducing fragmentation in Europe's innovation landscape and the single market, particularly helping startups to scale.
Presentations during the visit highlighted key areas where EPO expertise and resources can support European Commission initiatives in technology and innovation. The EPO's partnerships and cooperation agreements with international and regional organisations were also highlighted in support of the European Commission's innovation agenda.
The Observatory on Patents and Technology was highlighted as a key platform to driving joint solutions for these challenges. The Observatory aids startups and SMEs through targeted fee reductions and tools and studies from the Observatory on Patents and Technology.
Discussions also emphasized how patent intelligence can pinpoint the most promising technologies for strategic investment, with special attention to the EPO's contributions to the Horizon Europe research programme. The JURI committee has been instrumental in the legislative developments leading to the Unitary Patent for over fifteen years.
The JURI Committee, which oversees and monitors the application of Union law, has jurisdiction in the field of intellectual property law. It is responsible for a number of Union acts which affect the Member States' legal order. The committee contributes to better law-making by making recommendations for the simplification of Union law.
The visit provided an opportunity to present the EPO's activities and strategic priorities, underscoring its importance in fostering innovation and supporting European startups and SMEs.
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