EPO and KPAA Pledge 2026 Collaboration After High-Level Meeting
A high-level meeting took place at the European Patent Office (EPO) headquarters in Munich. EPO Vice-President Christoph Ernst hosted a delegation led by Korean Patent Attorneys Association (KPAA) President Dookyu Kim. The gathering was a continuation of dialogue between the EPO and key innovation market user associations.
The meeting began with Ernst expressing pleasure in welcoming the KPAA delegation. Kim, in turn, stated that the association values the open dialogue with the EPO. Both parties expressed a shared interest in continuing this meeting and exploring further collaboration in 2026.
The EPO presented its Quality Action Plan 2025 and recent improvements in search and examination. In 2024, 85.1% of standard search reports were dispatched on time, and 81.9% of standard files were processed within the target timeline. The EPO also showcased its Observatory on Patents and Technology, focusing on areas such as innovation financing, sustainability, health, and quantum technologies.
Kim's delegation was led by Hyun-Seock Kwon, who has served in a director role at the KPAA in the past. Korean applicants are ahead of other major non-European markets like China and the US in requesting unitary effect, with a rate of 18.9% in 2024, nearly double the rate in 2023.
The meeting between the EPO and KPAA resulted in a shared commitment to continued dialogue and collaboration. The EPO's performance in 2024 shows improvements in processing times, and Korean applicants are leading in requesting unitary effect among major non-European markets.
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