The EPO and the Intellectual Property Office of Ireland have signed a working agreement on search co-operation, enabling the EPO to conduct searches and provide written opinions on Irish national patent applications starting 1 July 2025. The initiative aims to support Irish innovators – especially small businesses, universities and individual inventors – by improving access to high-quality patent searches and offering an 80% fee reduction for micro-entities.

MUNICH - The European Patent Office (EPO) President António Campinos and James Kelly, Controller of the Intellectual Property Office of Ireland (IPOI), concluded a working agreement on search cooperation between the European Patent Organization (EPOrg) and IPOI. Once the agreement enters into force on 1 July 2025, IPOI can request the EPO to carry out searches on its national applications and provide a written opinion together with the search report. Ireland is the 19th contracting state with which the EPOrg currently has a working agreement on search co-operation in place, according to the official website of EPO. 

EPO President António Campinos said: “This agreement reflects our joint commitment to delivering high-quality search services and strengthening the European patent system. It will enable easier access for Irish innovators – especially small companies, universities and individual inventors – to the EPO’s search reports; a vital tool in investor due diligence for early-stage technologies. By providing expert insight into an invention’s potential before a patent is even granted, we’re empowering smarter decisions and helping technology-driven ideas move faster from lab to market."

James Kelly, Controller of the Intellectual Property Office of Ireland (IPOI), said: "The entry into force of this working agreement strengthens the close cooperation between the Intellectual Property Office of Ireland and the European Patent Office, delivering clear benefits for Irish IP users.  This collaborative initiative offers several advantages, particularly by improving access to the patent system for smaller entities.  It enhances opportunities for Irish companies and inventors to benefit from the EPO’s search report with a written opinion.  The search cooperation program will support Irish SMEs, universities, and individual inventors by reducing the fees associated with obtaining patent protection at both European and international levels."

Improving accessibility to the patent system

The working agreement is accompanied by an administrative agreement which will support Ireland’s SMEs, universities and individual inventors through an 80% reduction of the fee paid for the search.

Search co-operation program

The European Patent Office's Strategic Plan 2028 aims at fostering collaboration with partners to increase quality and enhance accessibility of the patent system for all. The search co-operation program is one of the strategic initiatives enabling member states of the European Patent Organization to provide their users with timely and high-quality search products so that they can better assess the prospects for protection of their invention at the international and European level.