News

The Professional Education Committee (PEC) met in Berlin on 24–25 June 2026.

From the impact of AI on the profession to new CPE Guidelines and the discussion about a working group for an epi Students’ Body, the PEC meeting covered a wide range of important topics. Read the full summary of the discussions and next steps.

The European Patent Office (EPO) will host the European Inventor Award 2026 ceremony on 2 July at 16:00 CEST, streamed live from Berlin. The award, which was launched in 2006, recognises inventors whose innovations contribute to technological progress and address key societal challenges across a wide range of fields.

After the landmark decision G1/24, which ruled that the description and drawings are always to be consulted when assessing the clarity of claim features, the question arises whether this approach is also appropriate when assessing the requirements of Art. 123(2) EPC, i.e. added subject-matter.

On behalf of epi, I warmly welcome the Republic of Moldova as the 40th member state of the European Patent Organisation as of 1 June 2026.
This marks the first former validation country that is now becoming a full member state of the European Patent system and facilitates obtaining a geographically broader patent protection. We will also soon be able to welcome new epi members from Moldova once Patent Attorneys who have so far acted before the national State Agency for Intellectual Property (AGEPI) of Moldova follow the 12-months transitional procedure foreseen under the EPC (Art. 134(3)).

Peter R. Thomsen
epi President

The Examination Board invites epi members to apply for membership in the EQE examination committees for the 2027/2028 term.