epi meets EPO Directorate-General 1

On 13 October 2025, experts from epi, representing the European Patent Practice Committee (EPPC) and the Biotechnology Committee, met with the European Patent Office’s Directorate General 1 (responsible for the patent granting process) for a hybrid meeting hosted at the EPO’s Isar building in Munich.

Opening remarks were delivered by Chris Mercer, Chair of the EPPC, Angel Aledo Lopez, EPO Chief Operating Officer & Chief Technology Officer and Stephen Rowan (EPO Vice-President for Patent Granting Process). They all highlighted the importance of maintaining a close and constructive dialogue between epi and the EPO.

The plenary session focused on four key topics: the “Paperless EPO”, the use of artificial intelligence in the process of inventing and its use within the Office (specially in search and examination as well as in the preparation of the minutes of oral proceedings), and the recent Enlarged Board of Appeal referrals G 1/24 and G 1/25. Following the plenary session, two breakout meetings took place: one on biotechnology matters (with a focus on patentability of antibodies) and another on legal and procedural matters addressing topics such as the use of outdated Guidelines citations by examiners, Opposition Divisions and current EPO practices to set up the composition of the divisions, the length of the proceedings (mainly opposition proceedings) and PACE requests for which the EPO reported filings statistics, and committed to providing more detailed information.

Both epi and EPO agreed to continue the exchange of feedback through the established channels, SACEPO and its Working Parties and additional meetings devoted to having further discussions on concrete raised topics.