EPO President discusses patent challenges and initiatives on IP Fridays Podcast

EPO President António Campinos has appeared on the latest episode of IP Fridays, a podcast on developments in the IP world, released today. 

Hosted by patent attorney Dr. Rolf Claessen, the podcast delves into key issues within the European patent landscape - these include the innovation gap outlined in the Draghi report, as well as how EPO initiatives are working to address such challenges. 

President Campinos provides a clear perspective on the importance of patent knowledge for driving innovation, growth, and competitiveness. He discusses the newly launched Patent Index; a key resource for identifying trends in European patent activity across industries and regions. Campinos stresses the need for a greater understanding of these technological trends: “Investing more in breakthrough technologies is crucial for accelerating Europe’s green and digital revolution. Now it’s time to apply a lens that will provide us with more granularity and identify where Europe leads or lags.” 

The conversation also explores what steps the EPO is taking to cut through complexity, detailing initiatives aimed at harmonising the patent landscape including the Unitary Patent. 

Beyond the innovation gap, the episode covers a wide range of topics including how the EPO is adapting to AI and digitalised practices, setting strategic priorities for patent quality, and responding to the evolving expectations in an interconnected world.