European Patent Office

The European Patent Office (EPO) is the executive body of the European Patent Organisation, responsible for granting patents for its 40 member states and beyond. It provides a centralized patent granting system that allows inventors, businesses, and research institutions to obtain patent protection across multiple European countries through a single application filed in one language. The core function of the EPO is the examination and granting of European patents under the European Patent Convention (EPC). This process includes formalities examination, prior art searches, substantive examination, opposition proceedings, and appeals. The EPO maintains the world’s most comprehensive patent database, Espacenet, which offers free access to over 150 million patent documents from more than 100 countries. Users can search patents by keywords, classifications, inventors, or applicants, and view full legal status information, citations, and family data. The EPO also manages the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) system in cooperation with WIPO, handling international search and preliminary examination for PCT applications. From June 2025, the EPO enables secure digital notifications for PCT communications via the WIPO ePCT platform, replacing paper-based notices and reducing administrative delays. The office supports patent protection for emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence, biotechnology, clean energy, and semiconductors, by developing examination guidelines and training examiners. It also publishes patent analysis reports, like the "Patents and Innovation" series, to help policymakers and businesses understand technological trends. The EPO runs the European Inventor Award, a prestigious annual prize that celebrates inventors from Europe and beyond who have made