Strengthening Knowledge Valorization: A New Partnership between the Commission and the EPO

10 / 10 / 2024

At the end of September, the European Commission's Directorate-General for Research and Innovation and the European Patent Office (EPO) signed a Letter of Intent to enhance their collaboration in the field of knowledge valorization. This strategic partnership aims to streamline intellectual assets management and foster a more robust European Research Area (ERA).

Key objectives of the partnership are:

Raising awareness: Jointly organizing campaigns, training sessions, and events to emphasize the significance of intellectual asset management.

Supporting SMEs and startups: Exploring collaborative initiatives to boost the innovation potential of small and medium-sized enterprises and startups, including promoting best practices.

Facilitating information exchange: Enabling the exchange of innovation-related information between the Commission and the EPO to assess trends and develop strategies that support the European innovation ecosystem.

The Commission’s Directorate-General for Research and Innovation is dedicated to promoting research, science, and innovation in the EU. By fostering value creation and competitiveness, the Directorate addresses economic and societal challenges and contributes to the green and digital transitions.

This partnership is in line with the strategic objectives of the European Research Area, which seeks to create a seamless market for research, innovation, and technology across the EU. By strengthening cooperation and streamlining intellectual assets management, the Commission and EPO are paving the way for a more competitive and innovative Europe.

In this context, we believe that effective patent protection and particularly well-drafted patents can make a positive contribution to these objectives.

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