Europe and Japan Team Up: Powering Innovation Through Patents

On 5 March 2025, the European Patent Office (EPO) and Japan’s JETRO held their 13th annual meeting in Munich, sparking exciting discussions on innovation, sustainability, and the future of patents. With key players like JETRO Düsseldorf Director General Kazuyoshi Sugano in attendance, the event highlighted how collaboration is driving progress for Japanese companies in Europe. Here’s what you need to know:

The EPO is levelling up with AI-powered tools that make patent searches faster and more accurate. They also introduced the Legal Interactive Platform, a game-changer for quick and easy access to legal info. For Japanese companies, this means smoother processes and better support for their innovations.

Since its launch in 2023, the Unitary Patent system has been a hit, with over 50,000 requests. The EPO highlighted how it cuts costs, simplifies legal hurdles, and makes it easier for Japanese companies to protect their ideas across Europe. It’s a win-win for innovation and business growth.

The EPO is all about sustainability, with tools like the Deep Tech Finder connecting investors to over 10,500 European startups and universities. From clean energy to space tech, these initiatives are helping Japanese companies tap into cutting-edge innovations while supporting global sustainability goals.

The meeting wasn’t just about patents—it was about partnership. By addressing challenges and sharing ideas, the EPO and JETRO are working hand-in-hand to create a patent system that’s efficient, user-friendly, and ready for the future.

Want to hear more? Check out the interview with JETRO Director General Kazuyoshi Sugano for his take on the meeting and what’s next for EPO-JETRO collaboration.

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Text: Annual meeting strengthens bonds with Japanese industry | epo.org. https://www.epo.org/en/news-events/news/annual-meeting-strengthens-bonds-japanese-industry. Viděno 19. březen 2025.

Photo: Cimmerian praetor, CC BY-SA 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons