June 2022
The member states of
the European Patent Organisation have voted for another five-year term in
office for the President of the European Patent Office (EPO), António Campinos,
commencing 1 July 2023. The decision was taken at a meeting of the
organisation’s Administrative Council held today in Munich.
A
Portuguese national, António Campinos was appointed as EPO
President on 1 July 2018. Under his leadership
the EPO launched its Strategic
Plan 2023 in 2019, focusing on sustainability and delivering the
highest quality services to its users and the public.
During his first tenure Mr Campinos has steered the EPO
through a sweeping digital transformation, with staff switching rapidly to
large-scale teleworking back in March 2020. Beyond the efficiency gains
triggered by new online workflows and tools, digital transformation is also
delivering major benefits for users. The large-scale use of videoconferencing
for oral hearings in patent cases, for instance, gave patent applicants access
to justice during the pandemic.
By ramping up its consultation with users, the EPO has also
redoubled efforts to maintain and enhance the quality of its products and
services in recent years, while embedding sustainability more deeply across all aspects
of its operations.
Commenting on his
reappointment, Mr Campinos said: “It’s been a privilege to serve for a first
term and I am honoured by this second mandate. I am looking forward to working
with all colleagues and stakeholders, who have been so instrumental in our
achievements to date and play a crucial role in helping us to build a global patent
system that meets the needs of the innovation community.”
The
Administrative Council meeting also included a presentation of the EPO’s Annual
Review 2021, with member states fully endorsing the solid progress made by
the Office towards achieving the five goals of its Strategic Plan 2023.
