22/11/2021 (Agence Europe) – The European Patent Office (EPO) and the Saudi Arabian Intellectual Property Authority (SAIP) signed a Reinforced Partnership Agreement on Thursday 18 November. “The agreement is a long-term strategic partnership, based on a shared vision: the further development of the patent system as a catalyst for innovation, technology transfer and economic growth,” said EPO President António Campinos. As part of its 2030 strategy (see EUROPE 12684/17), the EPO is continuing to strengthen its cooperation with patent offices around the world. This is the tenth such agreement the EPO has signed with an IP office of a non-member state, the others being Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ethiopia, Malaysia, Mexico, Indonesia, South Africa and the African Regional Intellectual Property Organisation (ARIPO). (PH)