Strengthening Europe’s network of local patent information centres

On 28 March, the Slovenian Intellectual Property Office (SIPO) hosted a workshop with the European Patent Office (EPO) to expand the PATLIB network as a vital supporter of local innovation.

The event in Ljubljana gathered professionals from local universities, technology transfer offices, the Slovenian Ministry of Science, Slovenia’s three PATLIBs and SIPO. Discussions focused on the EPO’s support for the PATLIB network, including training, financial assistance and access to advanced patent information tools.

The meeting underscored PATLIBs’ role in fostering local innovation through a strong network embedded in broader national and European innovation ecosystems. SIPO aims to strengthen its national PATLIB network to foster Slovenia’s technological competitiveness.

More about PATLIB centres

The EPO has supported the PATLIB network since 1990. Today, the network comprises 331 European patent information centres across 37 countries. The centres are familiar with the local industrial, economic and business landscape, enabling them to offer a large portfolio of services on a variety of IP regimes to entrepreneurs, SMEs, private inventors and students. Furthermore, the PATLIB network is key player in the PATLIB Knowledge Transfer to Africa (KT2A) initiative.

The PATLIB conference is the network’s headline annual event. On 3 July 2025, the EPO’s Vienna office will host this year’s hybrid event, which will focus on the implementation of PATLIB2028 and enhancing the role of PATLIB centres, as well as featuring the CodeFest 2025 prize ceremony.