European Patent Office
European Patent Office
European Patent Organisation
The European Patent Office examines European patent applications and runs patent fee reductions, a free search tool for patent-backed companies and inventor prizes.
EPO at a glance
| Full name | European Patent Office |
|---|---|
| Part of | European Patent Organisation |
| Address | Germany |
| Programmes | 6 standing programmes |
| Official website | www.epo.org |
Programs by European Patent Office
1 past program · Filter all programs
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Which EPO programme fits you
6 programmes compared by who they are for, the stage they accept, how long they run and what they cost.
| Programme | Best for | Stage | Duration | Format | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Financing innovation programme | European inventors, start-ups and SMEs | — | — | — | — |
| EPO initiatives for patent applicants | Smaller and less experienced applicants filing European patents, including micro-entities | — | — | — | — |
| Young Inventors Prize (2027 round) | Inventors aged 30 or under with a public or published initiative, from anywhere in the world | — | — | — | — |
| European Inventor Award | Inventors with a granted European patent that is commercialised in Europe | — | — | — | — |
| Deep Tech Finder | Startups, investors and researchers looking for patent-backed companies in Europe | — | — | — | Free |
| PATLIB patent information centres | Entrepreneurs, SMEs, private inventors and students based in an EPO member state | — | — | — | — |
Programmes they run
Standing programmes at European Patent Office, separate from the funding calls above.
A mix of patent fee reductions, prizes and information tools. Prize rounds have their own nomination windows, and the status of each prize is as of the last check.
Financing innovation programme
ProgrammeThe EPO's programme to help European innovators, start-ups and SMEs reach finance by using patents and other intellectual property.
Best for: European inventors, start-ups and SMEs
What you get, who can apply and how to applyHide details
The Financing Innovation Programme's mission is to improve access to financial markets for European innovators, with a particular focus on inventors, start-ups and SMEs.
It aims to expand funding opportunities by using patents and other intellectual property as a base. It is written for European innovators, so founders based in India should treat it as background rather than a route in.
EPO initiatives for patent applicants
Policy benefitReduced EPO fees for smaller and less experienced applicants, with some reductions open to applicants from any country and others limited to certain residents.
Best for: Smaller and less experienced applicants filing European patents, including micro-entities
What you get, who can apply and how to applyHide details
The EPO reduces some of its own fees for applicants who qualify. Some reductions apply whatever the applicant's home country. Others depend on nationality or residence, or on where an SME is based.
What you get
- A reduced fee on the main grant-procedure fees for micro-entities
- A reduced filing and/or examination fee for applicants who are nationals or residents of a European Patent Convention state where English, French or German is not an official language
- Compensation for translation costs for SMEs that file in another language and request unitary effect after grant
- A lower renewal fee for Unitary Patent holders who declare a licence of right
Who can apply
- Micro-entities: microenterprises, natural persons, non-profit organisations, universities and public research organisations that have filed fewer than five European or Euro-PCT applications in the last five years. This reduction applies whatever the applicant's home country.
- Filing and examination reduction: nationals or residents of a European Patent Convention state where English, French or German is not an official language.
- Translation compensation: SMEs with residence or a principal place of business in an EU member state.
How to apply: Declare the applicable entity type when you file.
Young Inventors Prize (2027 round)
CompetitionThe EPO's prize for inventors aged 30 or under with a public or published initiative; nominations for the 2027 round are closed.
Best for: Inventors aged 30 or under with a public or published initiative, from anywhere in the world
What you get, who can apply and how to applyHide details
The Young Inventors Prize is the EPO's prize for young inventors. It is open to individuals and groups worldwide, so candidates from India can enter.
What you get
- Cash prizes for Tomorrow Shapers, three special prize winners and a People's Choice winner
- A certificate or trophy alongside the cash
Who can apply
- Individuals aged 30 or under at the time of the Award ceremony, or groups of them
- A public or published initiative
How to apply: Nominations are made through the EPO's nominations page. The 2027 round is closed; check the same page for later rounds.
European Inventor Award
CompetitionThe EPO's award for inventors with a granted European patent; the 2026 nominations are closed.
Best for: Inventors with a granted European patent that is commercialised in Europe
What you get, who can apply and how to applyHide details
The European Inventor Award is the EPO's award for inventors, given across several categories.
Who can apply
- A granted European patent
- Commercialisation in Europe
Both are among the prerequisites in every category.
How to apply: Nominations are made through the EPO's nomination process. The 2026 nominations are closed.
Deep Tech Finder
PlatformA free EPO search tool for finding patent-backed startups, university spinouts, investors and research organisations across Europe.
Best for: Startups, investors and researchers looking for patent-backed companies in Europe
- Free
What you get, who can apply and how to applyHide details
The Deep Tech Finder is a free tool from the EPO for discovering patent-backed startups, university spinouts, investors and research organisations across Europe.
The EPO says it includes more than 20 000 patent-backed startups, 4 000 spinouts, 14 000 investors and 1 000 research institutions. These are self-reported figures.
If your profile is missing: tell the EPO. It says it will review the entry and update its database.
PATLIB patent information centres
ProgrammeA network of over 300 regional patent information centres across EPO member states, giving local access to patent information.
Best for: Entrepreneurs, SMEs, private inventors and students based in an EPO member state
What you get, who can apply and how to applyHide details
PATLIB centres give local access to patent information and related issues. There are over 300 of them, spread regionally across the EPO's member states.
The centres serve entrepreneurs, SMEs, private inventors and students. They are located in EPO member states, not India.
How to apply: Use a centre near you within an EPO member state.
Support services
Help offered alongside funding and space.
IP & patents
Reduced EPO fees, and local access to patent information through PATLIB centres.
How to apply to European Patent Office
Choose the right route
- Patent fees: check whether you qualify for a fee reduction before you file.
- Prizes: the Young Inventors Prize is for individuals or teams aged 30 or under with a public or published initiative. The 2027 round is closed.
- Inventor award: every category requires a granted European patent and commercialisation in Europe.
- Finding companies: the Deep Tech Finder is a free search tool.
- Local help: a PATLIB centre, if you are based in an EPO member state.
How applications work
- Declare the applicable entity type when you file.
- The micro-entity reduction requires fewer than five European or Euro-PCT applications in the last five years.
- If you hold a Unitary Patent, declaring a licence of right can lower later renewal fees.
What to check before you apply
- The filing and examination reduction is for nationals or residents of a European Patent Convention state where English, French or German is not official. Check this before assuming it applies.
- Translation-cost compensation needs residence or a principal place of business in an EU member state.
- Prize rounds have their own nomination windows. Check the official nominations page for the current status.
About European Patent Office
The European Patent Office (EPO) is the executive arm of the European Patent Organisation, an intergovernmental body with 40 member states. It examines European patent applications, so one application can give an inventor protection in up to 46 countries. Its offers for startups are narrower than an incubator's: patent fee reductions, a free search tool, prizes for inventors and a network of patent information centres.
How the programmes work
The EPO's Financing Innovation Programme is its umbrella for offers on financing. Its stated mission is to improve access to financial markets for European innovators, with a particular focus on inventors, start-ups and SMEs, by expanding funding opportunities through patents and other intellectual property.
The offers listed on this site work differently from one another. Fee reductions apply to patent applications as they are filed and examined. Prizes open and close in their own nomination rounds. The Deep Tech Finder is a search tool, and PATLIB centres are local services.
Who can apply
Fee reductions depend on the type of applicant and where it is based. The micro-entity reduction on the main grant fees applies whatever the applicant's home country. It is for microenterprises, natural persons, non-profit organisations, universities and public research organisations that have filed fewer than five European or Euro-PCT applications in the last five years.
The reduction on filing and examination fees is narrower. It is for nationals or residents of a European Patent Convention state where English, French or German is not an official language. Translation-cost compensation is for SMEs that file in another language and request unitary effect after grant, and it needs residence or a principal place of business in an EU member state.
The Young Inventors Prize is open to individuals or groups worldwide, with a maximum age of 30 at the time of the Award ceremony, for a public or published initiative. The European Inventor Award requires a granted European patent and commercialisation in Europe.
Prizes and nominations
The Young Inventors Prize names Tomorrow Shapers, three special prize winners and a People's Choice winner. Each receives cash prizes, with a certificate or trophy. Nominations for the 2027 round are closed. Nominations for the 2026 European Inventor Award are also closed.
Deep Tech Finder
The Deep Tech Finder is a free EPO tool for discovering patent-backed startups, university spinouts, investors and research organisations across Europe. The EPO says it now includes more than 20 000 patent-backed startups, 4 000 spinouts, 14 000 investors and 1 000 research institutions. These are self-reported figures. Listings are built around European patent applications, so a startup without one is unlikely to appear. A missing startup or investor can be reported to the EPO, which says it will review and update its database.
Patent information centres
Over 300 PATLIB centres are spread regionally across the EPO's member states. They give local access to patent information and provide services to entrepreneurs, SMEs, private inventors and students. The centres are in Europe, not India, so they are a route for founders based in an EPO member state.
Scale
A single European patent application can give protection in up to 46 countries through one centralised procedure. The EPO reports almost 6 300 staff of 35 nationalities.
Who runs it
The European Patent Organisation was set up on 7 October 1977 on the basis of the European Patent Convention, which was signed in Munich in 1973. The EPO is its executive arm, and it is financed entirely by fees paid by its users.
Locations
The EPO has its headquarters in Munich, a branch in The Hague, and offices in Berlin, Vienna and Brussels.
Who they work with
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Frequently asked questions about European Patent Office
What is the full form of EPO?
EPO stands for European Patent Office.
What does European Patent Office do?
The European Patent Office (EPO) is the executive arm of the European Patent Organisation, an intergovernmental body with 40 member states. It examines European patent applications, so one application can give an inventor protection in up to 46 countries.
Where is European Patent Office located?
European Patent Office is based in Germany.
What programs does European Patent Office run?
European Patent Office runs Financing innovation programme, EPO initiatives for patent applicants, Young Inventors Prize (2027 round) and European Inventor Award, among others.
How do I apply to European Patent Office?
- Patent fees: check whether you qualify for a fee reduction before you file. - Prizes: the Young Inventors Prize is for individuals or teams aged 30 or under with a public or published initiative. The 2027 round is closed. - Inventor award: every category requires a granted European patent and commercialisation in Europe. - Finding companies: the Deep Tech Finder is a free search tool.
Recommended grants & schemes
Other open programmes matching European Patent Office's focus areas.