New EPO Report: Patents Paving the Way to A More Sustainable Future

Innovation is essential if we are to confront the world's unprecedented climate, health, and population crises. European Patent Office (EPO) has recently published a new report highlighting the details about the EPO’s main sustainability initiatives, with examples of how patent knowledge enables solutions to humanity’s greatest challenges.

The EPO encourages innovators in their efforts to solve global concerns and contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) for a safer, smarter, and more sustainable future. Joint studies with the EU Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) on IPR-intensive industries demonstrate that IP rights promote innovation, job creation, and business growth. Approximately two-thirds of the inventions for which small and medium enterprises (SMEs) have filed a patent application with the EPO are commercially exploited. In this sense, IP rights foster a more sustainable economy and society.