Egypt promotes the digitisation of its Patent Office

Digitisation is a priority for patent offices around the world. The aim is to make it easier for users to use the patent application system. The Twinning Project to Strengthen the Egyptian Patent Office (EGYPO) works along these lines. 

This international cooperation project, managed by FIIAPP and financed by the European Union, has organised a series of sessions together with two Spanish experts from the Spanish Patent and Trademark Office (OEPM). These meetings have enabled an exchange of experiences focused on the advances in digitisation that have been made so far and on possible improvements for the future.   

Digitisation will improve the patent filing system as well as all the steps involved in the granting procedure, such as the publication of patents, the follow-up procedure, payment and, in general, the way the Patent Office works, moving from a paper-based model to a digital one.   

SMEs, universities and research centres will also benefit from this digital transformation. Facilitating the procedure to protect inventions or innovations through patents will mean a reduction in time and costs. 

This twinning project also works together with SMEs to promote innovative private sector development. The objective is to increase opportunities to generate employment and establish a personalised first-line information service for potential users such as chambers of commerce, universities or business intermediaries.