Munich, June 1, 2026 – The Republic of Moldova marked a historic moment for the national intellectual property system and its path of European integration, officially becoming the 40th Member State of the European Patent Organization (EPO).

On this occasion, a delegation of the State Agency on Intellectual Property (AGEPI), led by the Director of AGEPI, Iulian E. Iorga, traveled to Munich to participate in the official ceremony organized by the European Patent Office (EPO), dedicated to the accession of the Republic of Moldova to the European Patent Convention (EPC).

The central moment of the ceremony was the hoisting of the Flag of the Republic of Moldova at the headquarters of the European Patent Office in Munich, alongside the flags of the other 39 Member States of the European Patent Organization. The event symbolizes the full integration of the Republic of Moldova into the European invention protection system and its participation, as a full member, in the decision-making process on the development of the European patent system.

The ceremony was attended by António Campinos, President of the European Patent Office, Josef Kratochvíl, Chairperson of the Administrative Council of the European Patent Organization, Sergiu Russu, Counselor of the Embassy of the Republic of Moldova in the Federal Republic of Germany, as well as representatives of the EPO and AGEPI involved in the process of accession of the Republic of Moldova to the European Patent Convention.

In their messages to the participants, European officials welcomed the accession of the Republic of Moldova, emphasizing the importance of this step for strengthening European cooperation in the field of patents, stimulating innovation and economic development.

The President of the EPO, António Campinos, highlighted that the accession of the Republic of Moldova is the result of a long and fruitful cooperation between the EPO and AGEPI and will contribute to facilitating access for Moldovan innovators to a high-quality patent protection system, while strengthening the integration of the national innovation ecosystem in the European space.

In turn, the Chairperson of the Administrative Council of the European Patent Organization, Josef Kratochvíl, noted that the expansion of the Organization to 40 Member States demonstrates the attractiveness and solidity of the European patent system and reflects the shared commitment to promoting innovation, competitiveness and economic development in Europe.

During the ceremony, the Director of AGEPI, Iulian E. Iorga, expressed the Republic of Moldova’s appreciation for the constant support provided by the EPO and the Member States during the accession process, emphasizing that this moment represents the culmination of a joint effort carried out over several years.

“This moment is the result of a long-standing close partnership between AGEPI and the European Patent Office – from technical cooperation and the Validation Agreement to full accession to the European patent family. We didn’t get here alone. Accession to the European Patent Convention opens access to a market of over 700 million consumers for innovators, researchers and businesses from the Republic of Moldova. This isn’t just a number – it’s an opportunity the Republic of Moldova is ready to take advantage of. We are proud to join this community and are determined to actively contribute to its success”, stated the Director of AGEPI.

The accession of the Republic of Moldova to the European Patent Organization occurs after the deposit of the instrument of accession to the European Patent Convention on 25 March 2026. Starting with 1 June 2026, all European patent applications will automatically include the designation of the Republic of Moldova, facilitating access to patent protection on the territory of the country and increasing its attractiveness for investment and innovative activities.

Cooperation between the Republic of Moldova and the EPO dates back to the mid-1990s, and was significantly strengthened by the entry into force, on 1 November 2015, of the Agreement on Validation of European Patents. This mechanism contributed to the approximation of the national intellectual property system to European standards and paved the way for full accession to the European Patent Convention.

On the occasion of the accession of the Republic of Moldova to the European Patent Organization, the Flag of the Republic of Moldova was hoisted alongside those of the Organization's Member States at the EPO headquarters in Munich, as well as at its offices in The Hague, Berlin and Vienna.

By this accession, the Republic of Moldova reaffirms its commitment to promoting innovation, technology transfer and the development of a knowledge-based economy, while strengthening its integration into the European space of research, innovation and competitiveness.