This marks the third study commissioned by the European Patent Office (EPO) since 2009 to assess its local impact. The EPO’s substantial economic contribution was calculated based on local employee spending, procurement activities, and the presence of other patent attorneys located near EPO offices.

    The latest findings show that the EPO made a considerable contribution to the local economies of its two main host countries—Germany and the Netherlands—between 2018 and 2023.

    Commenting on the report, EPO President António Campinos said:
“In line with the EPO’s mission—to contribute to a safer, smarter, and more sustainable world—we have continuously worked to support our regions through diversity and sustainability, not just economic value. We are proud to be part of a vibrant innovation ecosystem that thrives on collaboration and creativity and delivers high-quality services. Our presence is rooted in a shared commitment to progress.”

    According to the report, in 2023 the EPO generated €3.8 billion in added value for Germany and €840 million for the Netherlands. Compared to 2018, these figures represent a nominal increase of 31% in Germany and 5% in the Netherlands.

    Of the EPO’s 6,300 employees, 3,800 are based in Germany and 2,500 in the Netherlands. In Germany, employee spending and the EPO’s procurement of goods and services locally created 6,400 additional external jobs and €1.3 billion in added value in 2023. In other words, for every direct EPO employee, 1.7 external jobs were created.

    In the Netherlands, the corresponding figures were 3,700 additional jobs and €780 million in added value—meaning each direct EPO employee generated 1.5 external jobs.

    The study considered both the direct and indirect economic impact of the EPO, including the influence of other European patent attorneys operating near EPO offices, particularly in Munich.

    On May 12, following a meeting at EPO headquarters in Munich, Joachim Herrmann, Bavarian Minister of the Interior, stated:
“The EPO is not only an international authority, but its presence in Germany has become a powerful economic engine for the country. The current study shows that the EPO’s offices in Munich and Berlin have made a remarkable contribution to regional value creation. Its presence is a strategic geographic advantage—especially for Bavaria as a hub of innovation.”

    (Source: www.epo.org)