11 October 2017

The Administrative Council of the European Patent Organisation has elected António Campinos to succeed Benoît Battistelli as President of the European Patent Office (EPO). His five-year term will start on 1 July 2018.

A Portuguese national, Mr Campinos is currently Executive Director of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO). He is also a former President of the Portuguese Institute of Industrial Property (INPI). In that function, he served as the Portuguese representative on the Administrative Council of the European Patent Organisation for several years.

Speaking after the Administrative Council session, current President of the EPO Benoît Battistelli said: ‘I'd like to congratulate António Campinos warmly on his election. It is a victory of competence and impressive experience in IP. It's also a victory for Europe in its diversity. It is the first time that a national from the South of Europe is appointed as the head of the EPO. This decisive outcome shows how the European Patent Organisation has matured in terms of implementing strong governance and providing leadership in decision making that will serve European innovation.'

The Administrative Council, made up of the delegations from all member states, is the Organisation's legislative body. It is responsible for supervising the activities of the Office, approving the budget and appointing the President of the EPO.

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