European Patent Office

The European Patent Organisation, an international organisation with its headquarters in Munich, operates the fastest-growing regional patent system worldwide. It currently has 31 member states and is set to expand further in the near future. Its executive body, the European Patent Office (EPO), strives to stand out as a model international public service organisation. Its mission is to support innovation, competitiveness and economic growth for the benefit of European citizens. With more than 6 000 staff in Munich and at its branches in The Hague, Berlin and Vienna, the EPO is one of the largest patent offices worldwide, and the second-biggest European organisation.