2023 Francis Gurry Lecture on Intellectual Property - 28.11.23

Event details

'Towards a Sustainable Patent System and Society'
Presented by Mr António Campinos
President of the European Patent Office.

The 2023 Francis Gurry Lecture on Intellectual Property

This year the European Patent Office (EPO) celebrated 50 years of the European Patent Convention (EPC). In that time, the signatories to the EPC have grown from 16 to 39 Member States, and the EPO has granted over 2 million European Patents. Building upon the achievements of the EPO’s Strategic Plan 2023, the new Strategic Plan 2028 is about to be launched and will centre on one overarching goal: sustainability. SP2028 is set to guide the EPO towards establishing a more sustainable European Patent Organisation and patent system that can support the innovation ecosystem, economic growth and competitiveness in Europe and beyond.

In this presentation, the President of the EPO will share his vision for the next stage of the Organisation’s contribution to the patent system and the societal benefits it brings.

Mr António Campinos

António Campinos took up office as the President of the European Patent Office (EPO) on 1 July 2018 and was re-appointed to a further five-year term in 2023. Prior to his EPO appointment, Mr Campinos was the Executive Director of the European Union Intellectual Property Office, the organisation responsible for managing the EU trademark and the registered Community design.

Mr Campinos is a Portuguese national with Master’s degrees in Public Law and in Advanced European Studies. He was awarded the title of Doctor Honoris Causa from the University of Alicante, Spain, in 2017. In recognition of his significant contribution to Intellectual property law and practice, Mr Campinos was inducted into the IP Hall of Fame of the Intellectual Asset Management magazine.

The Francis Gurry Lecture on Intellectual Property series

Established by the Melbourne Law School, in conjunction with the Institute of Patent and Trademark Attorneys of Australia, in 2009. The Lecture is named in honour of the Law School’s distinguished alumnus, Dr. Francis Gurry, former Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (2008-2020).

The Francis Gurry Lecture series has been generously supported by: