site.btaEuropean Patent Office Delegation Pays Visit to Sofia

A delegation of the European Patent Office (EPO), led by President Antonio Campinos, paid a two-day visit to Sofia on Thursday and Friday, the Patent Office of Bulgaria said on Friday.  The visit began with a meeting with the Minister of Economy and Industry and the Patent Office head, Engineer Olya Dimitrova.

The sides discussed key matters related to the resilience of the patent system, the promotion of small and medium enterprises (SMEs), the role of universities and individual applicants, support for intellectual property, and future opportunities for bilateral cooperation.

On Friday, a second working meeting was held at the Patent Office's headquarters, where the EPO President discussed with the Patent Office leadership the work on the current EPO Strategic Plan (2024-2028) as well as the priorities and activities within the two institutions' cooperation.

The main topics discussed were the national and European initiatives directed at increasing the capacity of the Patent Office, support for SMEs's access to the patent system, cooperation in digital instruments and services powered by artificial intelligence, positive effects from the EPO's professional mobility schemes, and broadening of the cooperation with Bulgaria's technical universities.