The European Patent Office (EPO) has entered into a working agreement with the Intellectual Property Office of Ireland (IPOI), enabling the EPO to conduct patent searches and provide written opinions on Irish national patent applications, in a development with significant implications for Ireland's innovation ecosystem.

The EPO reported that the agreement is designed to enhance the quality and accessibility of patent services in Ireland, with a particular focus on supporting micro-entities, including startups, academic institutions and individual inventors.

Under the scheme, which will operate as a pilot programme until December 2026, eligible applicants can access EPO search reports and written opinions at an 80% discount, with a maximum of five applications per year from individual applicants and up to ten annually from micro-entities, universities, research centres and non-profit organisations.

Ireland becomes the 19th contracting state to enter into such a working agreement with the EPO, joining a growing network of countries benefiting from the EPO's search capabilities.

Karen Gallagher, intellectual property expert at Pinsent Masons, said the development was a step in the right direction, but noted that many Irish innovators would still be waiting for news on the proposed Unified Patent Court referendum so they could avail of the benefits that full membership of the unified patent system can offer.

The agreement is expected to motivate eligible Irish applicants to file first in Ireland, allowing them to gain valuable prior art insights before deciding on longer-term IP strategy.

The move comes as Ireland considers accession, pending a national referendum, to the Unified Patent Court, which became operational in 2023 and offers a single patent enforceable across participating EU states.

Explore the full details of the EPO's new partnership with Ireland and what it means for Irish innovators.