The PATLIB (Patent Library) Network in Europe

1. The PATLIB (Patent Library)Network in Europe 19 May 2010 Heidrun Krestel European Affairs, Member States

2. Presentation overview • Landscape of the European PATLIB network • PATLIBs' innovation support services for users • EPO's collaboration with and support for the European PATLIB network

3. The European PATLIB network -37 member states 340 centres (including information units of national patent offices) IS3 FI 16 SE 1 NO 1 EE 2 DK 1 LV 2 IE 1 GB 14 LT 5 NL 1 PL 27 DE 25 SK 5 BE 10 CZ 11 AT 8 LU 2 HU 4 CH 1 FR 28 RO 17 PT 25 ES 25 BG 6 IT 61 TR 20 GR 4 MC 2 CY 1 LI 2 SI 3 HR 1 MK 1 SM 1 MT 1 AL 1 European PATLIB network

4. PATLIB density per country European PATLIB network

5. Some characteristics • PATLIB centres in Europe are very diverse in • attachment to national or regional supervising authorities European PATLIB network

6. Types of hosting authorities European PATLIB network

7. Some characteristics • PATLIB centres in Europe are very diverse in • attachment to national or regional supervising authorities • size (staff, infrastructure) • user structure • services provided • funding • Main users: • small and medium sized enterprises • academic sector European PATLIB network

8. Benefits for users • Vicinity • Excellent IP expertise and patent information retrieval skills • National / regional language • Knowledge of local economic conditions and users' needs European PATLIB network

9. Traditional services (library based) Reading room Document delivery Helpdesk Basic search services Innovation support services

10. Challenges for PATLIB centres • Not longer "monopolists" in providing patent documents (and information) • Patent information is accessible for everybody, often free of charge • Decreasing budgets in the public sector • Rapidly changing information technology • Changing user demands • PATLIB centres need to become providers of innovation support services Innovation support services

11. PATLIB's services in the innovation chain patent / utility model application idea decisionto develop further IP rights R&D Productdesign Production Commerciali-sation Market and competitormonitoring Check for infringements Trend and market analysis searches, funds acquisition State of the art,novelty search, search for partners/suppliers Innovation support services

12. Sophisticated services (business based) User training Sophisticated search services with interpretation of results Patent strategy development Monitoring services Patent clinics Commercialisation support Evaluation of economic value of IP rights IP audits Innovation support services

13. The vision for the future • Enhanced service portfolio • Specialisation toward relevant target groups • Further qualification of staff • Improvement of visibility (promotion and marketing) • Self-sustainability • Networking with other innovation support entities Innovation support services

14. Collaboration EPO - PATLIBsBasic principles • Acknowledgement of and first level support for PATLIB centre is at national level • Co-operation EPO - PATLIB requires consent of the NPO • EPO's co-operation policy applies for activities with PATLIBs EPO NPO PATLIB EPO's support for PATLIBs

15. General EPO support for PATLIB centres • Information on each centre on the EPO website (directory), including links to their websites EPO's support for PATLIBs

16. EPO's support for PATLIBs

17. EPO's support for PATLIBs

18. General EPO support for PATLIB centres • Information on each centre on the EPO website (directory), including links to their websites • Annual PATLIB conference as platform for communication and exchange of best practice • Training on EPO patent information tools and other relevant topics (at EPO premises or on site upon request) EPO's support for PATLIBs

19. Co-operation programme to reorient patent information centres (pilot project) • Objective: • Enable PATLIB centres to offer patent related innovation support centres mainly in the pre-filing and commercialisation phase of inventions • Sustainability of the services • Implementation procedure: • pilot project with a limited number of centres to test the concept • inclusion in the National Action Plans • after successful completion -> larger scale implementation possibly supported by the European Commission EPO's support for PATLIBs

20. Co-operation programme to reorient patent information centres (pilot project) Project components: • Tools for • enhanced user support for searches (e.g. shared browsing) • patent analyses and visualisation of search results • development of patent strategies and patent portfolio management • evaluation of the economic potential of inventions • Modular training programme and e-learning tools • Coaching by staff from well developed centres already offering sophisticated innovation support services EPO's support for PATLIBs

21. Roadmap • Presentation of the to co-operation programme to the TOSC in September • Approval of the co-operation programme by the AC end of October 2009 • Nomination of candidates by the national offices • Selection of suitable pilot participants • Drafting the training programme • Establishing individual working plans • Adapting / acquiring relevant tools • Implementing the agreed activities • Regular monitoring and evaluation of implementation activities • Project proposal to the EC EPO's support for PATLIBs

22. Thank you very much for your attention Questions? hkrestel@epo.org