EPO SP2028 - A Sustainable Vision for the Future of IP 2024-10-25

The European Patent Office (EPO) has recently unveiled its Strategic Plan 2028, laying out a roadmap for the future of intellectual property management with a strong focus on sustainability.

The ambitious plan is centered around five key drivers: People, Technology, Quality Products, Partnerships, and Financial Sustainability.

1. People: Engaging and Empowering the Workforce
At the core of the Strategic Plan is the EPO’s commitment to its people. A central aim is to foster a culture of engagement and empowerment by improving recruitment and internal processes. The EPO plans to streamline its end-to-end recruitment cycle to less than four months, ensuring it attracts top talent to tackle the ever-evolving world of intellectual property.

2. Technology: Embracing Digital Innovation
In an increasingly digital world, the EPO aims to enhance its technological capabilities by integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into its processes. This digital transformation will enable the EPO to boost productivity, improve workflows, and provide better services to applicants. AI is expected to play a significant role in patent examination processes, reducing human error and increasing efficiency.

3. Quality Products and Services: Timeliness and Excellence
The EPO is determined to maintain and elevate the quality of its products and services. One of its most ambitious targets is to ensure that 70% of patents are examined and granted within 36 months from the filing date, aiming to provide faster and more reliable service to innovators.

4. Partnerships: Strengthening Global Collaboration
Another key driver of the Strategic Plan is the EPO’s commitment to building strong partnerships with patent offices and organizations across the globe. The plan aims to promote further convergence of patent practices within the European Patent Network (EPN) and beyond, ensuring the global patent system is harmonized and efficient.

5. Financial Sustainability: Ensuring Long-Term Viability
The final pillar of the Strategic Plan is the EPO’s focus on maintaining financial sustainability. With an eye toward the uncertain global economic landscape, the EPO has set a target for a 2.1% annual production increase over the next several years. This growth strategy is designed to ensure that the EPO can continue to provide high-quality services while remaining financially viable.

Legacy Systems and Modernization
The EPO will phase out outdated tools, including the European Patent Register, replacing them with more modern and transparent platforms. This shift will improve the availability of patent data, increase transparency, and simplify communication between users and the office.

Challenges and Opportunities
The EPO is well-positioned to handle the growing complexity of global innovation. As technology evolves, so do the challenges surrounding IP management. The Strategic Plan 2028 reaffirms the EPO’s commitment to sustainability, digital innovation, and global partnerships, ensuring that it remains at the forefront of intellectual property management for years to come.

This strategy supports not only today’s innovators but also the next generation, helping to create a more sustainable, efficient, and globally accessible IP system.
For further details, you can access the full plan on the EPO’s official website https://www.epo.org/en/about-us/office/strategic-plan-2028


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Lead
partner

Tamara Besednjak Valič

Faculty Of Information Studies In Novo Mesto

e-mail: tamara.valic@fis.unm.si

Communication
leader

Virág Szuák

Pannon Business Network Association

e-mail: virag.szuak@pbn.hu