Articles

Brazil-European Union Agreement Strengthens Innovation and Global Trade with Patent Cooperation
Author Matheus Martinez
On November 26, Brazil and the European Union took a significant step to strengthen their collaboration in the field of intellectual property. The presidents of the National Institute of Industrial Property (INPI), Cláudio Vilar Furtado, and the European Patent Office (EPO), António Campinos, signed a Memorandum of Understanding that establishes an Enhanced Technical and Strategic Partnership between the two organizations. This agreement, which marks the start of a two-year work plan, aims to improve the quality and efficiency of the patent systems in Brazil and Europe, while fostering innovation and economic development in both regions.
With the signing of the document, INPI and EPO will strengthen their cooperation through various initiatives, such as the sharing of tools, databases, and best practices in the search and examination of patent applications. One of the most important aspects of the partnership is the use of search reports prepared by the EPO, which will be incorporated into the INPI’s patent examination process, raising the quality of decisions in Brazil. This will result in faster and more accurate patent examinations, benefiting inventors and companies on both sides of the Atlantic.
This agreement has a direct impact on trade and investment between Brazil and the European Union, two regions that together represent a large share of the global economy. Brazil is the largest economy in Latin America, and its trade with the European Union accounts for more than a third of the EU’s trade with the region. In addition, Europe is one of the largest foreign investors in Brazil, with significant contributions in key sectors such as technology, energy, and infrastructure. The cooperation between the two patent offices, therefore, is not only a technical advancement but also a strategic boost to increase the competitiveness and attractiveness of both the Brazilian and European markets.
Another relevant aspect of the agreement is the renewal of the Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) pilot program, which will come into effect on December 1, 2024. The PPH allows the results of a patent application examination in one of the countries to be used to accelerate the process in the other, bringing greater agility and efficiency to the patent grant process. With this renewal, companies and inventors will benefit from a more streamlined and effective process, promoting greater innovation exchange between Brazil and the European Union until 2029.
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