EPO User Day 2022: Updating users on quality, digital user services and sustainable innovation

Over 2 200 participants from at least 46 countries attended this year’s User Day, which took place online on 28 and 29 November. In addition, some 2 300 viewers followed the event on LinkedIn and YouTube. Participants on all channels could put their questions directly to our experts, with representatives from industry, the intellectual property profession, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), research institutes and the general public all attending the event.

EPO President António Campinos described 2022 to date as “a year of consolidating on the massive digital transformation we have undertaken since the pandemic”, saying that “interaction with our users through events like these is fundamental to continuing to improve our quality”.

The programme featured lively panel discussions on the Unitary Patent, which is due to enter into operation in April 2023, as well as on quality and timeliness, new approaches to sustainable innovation and an introduction to the EPO’s eight technology communities. EPO experts updated users on the latest developments in the Office’s digital services, including oral proceedings by videoconference, MyEPO Portfolio, which launched in June, Central Fee Payment services and Online Filing 2.0.

As the race for sustainable innovation accelerates, this year’s event showed how the EPO’s digital user services are helping patent examiners and patent information specialists alike to work more closely with users than ever before. Beyond expanding the reach and continuously improving the quality and timeliness of our products and services, this is also paving the way for more inclusive innovation.

Finally, the latest guidance was available on the benefits of PCT applications. Users received tips on how they can save up to 30 months of processing time by accelerating their application, including through the use of waivers. To mark its seventh anniversary, there was also an update on PCT Direct. External expert speakers from industry, patent law firms and SMEs appeared in most of the panel discussions and break-out sessions.

You can catch up with all the EPO User Day sessions or watch them again here.