01 June 2012: Signature of a memorandum of understanding between the European Patent Office (EPO) and the CEIPI-University of Strasbourg, in Paris. The co-operation in training in European patent law is strengthened

A memorandum of understanding between the EPO and the CEIPI was signed on Friday, June 1, 2012 in Paris at the Administrative board meeting of the CEIPI hosted by the INPI by the President of the University of Strasbourg, Alain Beretz and the President of the European Patent Office, Benoît Battistelli, in presence of the members of the Administrative Board of the CEIPI and particularly its President, Francis Gurry as well as the Director General  of the CEIPI, Christophe Geiger.

Since the establishment of the European Patent Office, the EPO and the CEIPI have always had close ties in the area of training in European patent law and especially in the preparation of the European qualifying examination.

This important memorandum signals a new stage in the co-operation between the two institutions and it will govern all the activities involving experts from the EPO. The common programmes dedicated to the training of candidates for the European qualifying examination and the continuing education of representatives, shall be merged under the heading “Euro-Ceipi”. In this respect, the agreement will further the objective of insuring the first class expertise of European industrial property professionals.

From left to right: Pascal Duyck, Director of the INPI Department for support to companies and research, Christophe Geiger, Director General of the CEIPI, Alain Beretz, President of the University of Strasbourg, Benoît Battistelli, President of the EPO, Francis Gurry, Director General of WIPO and President of the CEIPI Administrative Board and François-Régis Hannart, Principal Director of the European & International Cooperation at the EPO.