IPOI signs working agreement on search co-operation with EPO
European Patent Office President António Campinos and James Kelly, Controller of the Intellectual Property Office of Ireland sign working agreement on search co-operation. Photo, courtesy of the European Patent Office.
IPOI are delighted to announce that on 25 June 2025, James Kelly, Controller of the Intellectual Property Office of Ireland (IPOI) and European Patent Office (EPO) President António Campinos signed the working agreement on search co-operation between the IPOI and European Patent Organisation (EPO). From 1 July 2025, IPOI can request the EPO to carry out searches on its national applications and provide a written opinion together with the search report.
EPO President António Campinos said: “This agreement reflects our joint commitment to delivering high-quality search services and strengthening the European patent system. It will enable easier access for Irish innovators – especially small companies, universities and individual inventors – to the EPO’s search reports; a vital tool in investor due diligence for early-stage technologies. By providing expert insight into an invention’s potential before a patent is even granted, we’re empowering smarter decisions and helping technology-driven ideas move faster from lab to market."
James Kelly, Controller of the Intellectual Property Office of Ireland (IPOI), said: "The entry into force of this working agreement strengthens the close cooperation between the Intellectual Property Office of Ireland (IPOI) and the European Patent Office (EPO), delivering clear benefits for Irish IP users." This collaborative initiative offers several advantages, particularly by improving access to the patent system for smaller entities. It enhances opportunities for Irish companies and inventors to benefit from the EPO’s Search Report with Written Opinion. The search cooperation programme will support Irish SMEs, universities, and individual inventors by reducing the fees associated with obtaining patent protection at both European and international levels.
The working agreement is accompanied by an administrative agreement which provides support for micro-entities and research centres. The search co-operation programme with IPOI will support the country’s SMEs, universities and individual inventors through an 80% reduction of the fee paid for the search.
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