03/07/2020 (Agence Europe) – The European Patent Office (EPO) received 181,406 European patent applications in 2019, an increase of 4% over the previous year, notes the EPO in its annual report published on Tuesday 30 June. In addition, the EPO published 137,787 European patents (compared to 68,422 in 2015), an increase of 8% compared to 2018. Examiners’ output reached 421,250 search, examination and opposition products, 4,250 more than expected. However, total production was down slightly from 2018 (-2.1%), due to a decrease in staff numbers in 2019, the Board acknowledges. For the Office, these overall positive figures are the materialisation of the new objectives of its strategic plan for 2023 adopted in 2019 (see EUROPE 12240/4). For more information: https://bit.ly/2D7RrjZ (PH)