EU patent system ‘to save firms €6m’

THE Government has called for the introduction of a single EU-wide patenting system, which it claims could save Irish firms around €6 million per year.

Europe currently has a fragmented patent system in place, which has consequences for competitiveness.

A European patent, designated in 13 countries, is about 10 times more expensive than a US patent and 13 times more costly than a Japanese one, when processing and translation costs are taken into account.

The main reason for the high cost is the need to translate the patent into the national language of each country in which validation is sought.

These translation costs alone cost Irish industry €6m a year.

The Government has written to the European Commission, urging it to adopt a single EU-wide patent for member states.

European patents granted to Irish applicants have risen by almost one third over the past eight years.

Figures from the European Patent Office show 145 patents were granted to Irish applicants last year — up 19% on the year before.

The new proposals, according to the Government, would mean costs covering the 27 member states would be less than €6,200 with just 10% of that due to translations.

Enterprise, Trade and Innovation Minister Batt O’Keeffe said: “It is important that we take steps to reduce bureaucratic costs associated with patent applications and protect the industrial property of Irish firms.

“We want to give Irish firms every opportunity to develop their innovative products and services, so that we can develop our indigenous enterprise base and create jobs here at home.”

The EC has received formal requests from 12 member states for enhanced co-operation on a single EU patent and the Commission is expected to submit its proposals to the European Council early in the new year.