INPI and EPO sign a cooperation agreement on patent search

On December 10, 2024, the National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI) and the European Patent Office (EPO) signed a cooperation agreement for the preparation of patent search reports.

This agreement, which will come into effect on March 1, 2025, allows the INPI to request the EPO to conduct search reports with written opinions on the patentability of inventions.

Advantages of the agreement for patent applicants

This agreement provides significant benefits for national patent applicants:

• High-quality patent search reports: conducted by EPO experts, ensuring reliable and thorough analysis.
• Faster processing: applicants will receive search reports more quickly, expediting the patent application process.
• Better decision-making: the search reports help applicants assess the novelty and inventive step of their invention early on.
• Enhanced investment opportunities: investors, including venture capitalists and business angels, use these reports to identify promising technologies.

Support for SMEs, universities, and individual inventors

To encourage innovation, the agreement includes an 80% fee reduction for patent searches, benefiting small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), universities, and individual inventors. This discount applies to the first 400 requests.

According to the INPI’s 2023 Statistical Report, patent applications in Portugal originated from:

• 48.2% companies/other entities (436 applications)
• 22.7% individual applicants (205 applications)
• 29.1% higher education/R&D institutions (263 applications)

Portugal joins a growing network of cooperation agreements

Portugal is now the 18th contracting state to sign a cooperation agreement with the EPO in this field.

The EPO’s 2023 Co-operation Report states that in 2023, the EPO conducted 2,585 national search reports for 14 of the 17 institutes that had already signed similar agreements, including Albania, Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, the Netherlands, San Marino, Slovenia, and the United Kingdom.

Increasing patent applications and future outlook

Preliminary 2024 statistics indicate a 5.2% increase in national invention applications compared to 2023. This suggests a rise in search reports with written opinions and greater cooperation between the INPI and EPO.

This landmark agreement will undoubtedly bring substantial benefits to applicants, streamline the patent application process, and foster innovation growth in Portugal.

Need assistance with patent applications?

At Herrero & Asociados Portugal, we specialize in intellectual property protection. Contact us today to learn how we can help you navigate the patent application process and maximize the benefits of this agreement.

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