The European Patent Organization (EPO), in cooperation with the European Commission (EC), is organizing from 12 to 13 May 2022, in online format, the Patent Information Conference entitled “PATLIB 2022”.

Due to its digital format, the first day of the event is again open this year to professionals outside the PATLIB network. It should be noted that in 2021, approximately 1200 registered participants from 100 countries were able to take part in the event.

The most important topics to be addressed at the current edition of the Information Conference are:

• Find out how the EPO and the EC partner on the topic of innovation valorization in Europe and seek to improve co-ordination and collaboration on the European, national and regional levels;
• Gain an understanding of how the introduction of the Unitary Patent will facilitate access to patent protection;
• Find out how innovators and innovating SMEs can access EC programmes, etc.

Who should attend?

SMEs, entrepreneurs, investors, private inventors, IP service providers, business consultants, universities and technology transfer professionals can join the event on Thursday, 12 May 2022.

Members of the PATLIB network will be able to join the conference on both Thursday, 12 and Friday, 13 May 2022.

The preliminary programme and any other information regarding this year’s Information Conference can be accessed at the following link https://www.epo.org/news-events/events/conferences/patlib2022.html.

We should note that there are currently over 300 patent information centers regionally across the EPO’s member states. PATLIB centers provide access to patent information and related issues. The employees of the centers are familiar with the industrial and economic activity and provide services to entrepreneurs, SMEs, private inventors and students. PATLIB centers can also provide practical assistance on other intellectual property rights.