The IP Federation President, Suzanne Oliver, hosted António Campinos, President of the European Patent Office (EPO), at a joint meeting of the Federation’s Council and Patent Committee on 13 September 2019.  In welcoming Mr Campinos, Ms Oliver explained that the aim of the 99-year old Federation is to improve the IP framework to meet the needs of innovative industry.  Its 47 IP-intensive member companies, operating in a wide range of sectors and product groups, are major users of the EPO, she added.

Giving a lively and interactive presentation, Mr Campinos outlined the EPO’s recently published Strategic Plan 2023, and described how its five strategic goals laid the foundation for an ambitious and sustainable future for the EPO and the wider patent system in Europe.  In an extensive and wide-ranging question and answer session, IP Federation members welcomed the focus placed by Mr Campinos on key topics including patent quality and increasing consultation with users.